Overview
- Hermeus completed the unmanned Mk 2.1’s maiden flight on March 2 at Spaceport America over White Sands Missile Range airspace, remotely piloting the aircraft from a ground deck.
- This marks the company’s second successful first flight in less than a year, following the Mk 1 debut in May 2025 that validated its rapid, iterative development approach.
- Roughly F-16 in size, Mk 2.1 uses a Pratt & Whitney F100 engine with a precooler and a delta wing, and is nearly three times larger and four times heavier than Mk 1.
- The initial sortie was subsonic to check systems and handling, with a planned envelope expansion toward breaking the sound barrier; Hermeus says the upcoming Mk 2.2 is expected to become the world’s fastest unmanned aircraft.
- The Quarterhorse series is a stepping stone to the Darkhorse Mk 3, which the company aims to push past the SR-71’s air-breathing speed record and toward Mach 5 under U.S. Air Force, SBIR, DIU and advanced battle management program engagements.