Hermeus
Updated: April 07, 2026
The team
Country: USA | Funding: $566M (+)
Founded: 2018
Website: https://www.hermeus.com/
Hermeus is developing unmanned hypersonic aircraft Darkhorse designed for US defense and national security missions. It will be powered by the Chimera combined-cycle turbine engine. At low speeds, it operates in turbine mode, like any jet aircraft. At higher speeds, the incoming air bypasses the turbine, and the ramjet engine takes over control. The company uses a rapid prototyping and testing approach similar to SpaceX. It has already conducted a demonstration flight of its prototype, which is comparable in size to an F-16 fighter jet. Hermeus has also a contract with the US Air Force to develop an Advanced Battle Management System.
Founded: 2018
Website: https://www.hermeus.com/
Hermeus is developing unmanned hypersonic aircraft Darkhorse designed for US defense and national security missions. It will be powered by the Chimera combined-cycle turbine engine. At low speeds, it operates in turbine mode, like any jet aircraft. At higher speeds, the incoming air bypasses the turbine, and the ramjet engine takes over control. The company uses a rapid prototyping and testing approach similar to SpaceX. It has already conducted a demonstration flight of its prototype, which is comparable in size to an F-16 fighter jet. Hermeus has also a contract with the US Air Force to develop an Advanced Battle Management System.
