Two aerospace companies based in Australia have teamed up in an attempt to collaboratively develop hypersonic flight-test options for programs based both internally within Australia and overseas.
Queensland-based Partnership
Gilmour Space Technologies and Hypersonix, two Australian aerospace companies, have signed an agreement committing to cooperative development of hypersonic flight-test options for defence and commercial initiatives.
Both of the Australian owned companies are based in Queensland, at the forefront of the state’s aerospace development. Gilmour Space Technologies develops and manufactures launch vehicles, satellites, and high-speed flight-test services. Headquartered on the Gold Coast, the company also owns and operates Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland.
Meanwhile, Hypersonix is an aerospace engineering, design and build company that specialises in hypersonic technology and scramjet engines. Working together, the companies hope to offer flight test service options that would advance the development of hypersonic flight.
Hypersonic flight typically refers to speeds of Mach 5 and above, or at least five times the speed of sound. It is faster from supersonic flight, which refers to speeds greater than approximately Mach 1 to Mach 5. Demand for hypersonic testing is growing, driven in part by Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) intention to lift the ban on supersonic travel over land by mid 2027, as well as the development of systems and enabling technologies including advanced sensors, communications, and guidance systems.
Hypersonic Development
Both Gilmour Space and Hypersonix are portfolio companies of the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) Corporation. The partnership between them was announced at an NRF Connect event hosted at Parliament House in Canberra. Gilmour Space co-founder and CEO Adam Gilmour said the agreement could open the door to further development, testing and demonstration of advanced technologies, commenting,
“Australia is developing serious expertise in rockets, scramjets and hypersonic flight. The next step is connecting those technologies and giving them a pathway through demonstration and into use. By bringing together our complementary strengths, we can support a broader range of applications, while building sovereign capability that makes Australia a stronger and more valuable partner.”
Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill said the partnership could help meet growing international demand for hypersonic test and evaluation and further develop Australia’s operational capabilities. Overall, the collaboration aims to strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial base and hypersonic capability by developing technology and infrastructure, retaining intellectual property, and advancing manufacturing capacity.
What do you think about the partnership and the potential it poses for hypersonic travel? Let us know in the comments.
