Overview
- Hermeus announced Ramjet‑X on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, describing an expendable ramjet about 6.7 meters long that it says will separate near Mach 3, climb to roughly 100,000 feet, and cruise near Mach 4 for 'tens of minutes'.
- The company is testing the ramjet propulsion at its HEAT facility in Jacksonville and developing high‑temperature structures in El Segundo with integrated vehicle testing scheduled for 2027.
- The FAA has granted limited authorization for up to six Mach‑1+ flights of the Quarterhorse Mk 2.2 over White Sands Missile Range through August 20, 2027, clearing a path for supersonic carrier tests.
- Hermeus plans to use its reusable Quarterhorse as a mothership instead of an expendable booster to lower per‑test cost and increase cadence, and company imagery shows two Ramjet‑X vehicles carried on underwing pylons for a single sortie.
- Hermeus is pitching Ramjet‑X as a commercial 'Flight Test as a Service' to let customers fly sensors, materials, propulsion hardware, and other payloads in sustained high‑Mach conditions while key details on payload capacity, flight profile and confirmed costs remain to be validated in flight tests.