Hypersonic flight is above Mach 5 – at least five times the speed of sound – around 3,800mph or 6,100kmh. For perspective, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, which hit Mach 3.3 (3,529 km/h) 50 years ago (and was retired in 1999), holds the record for the world’s fastest piloted jet aircraft.
Gilmour Space cofounder and CEO Adam Gilmour said there’s growing demand for hypersonic testing as new tech, such as advanced sensors, communications, guidance systems and high-temperature materials, comes into play, and the agreement with Hypersonix will mean more options to develop, test and demonstrate advanced technologies at a greater frequency.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Gilmour Space, which owns the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland, brings rocket propulsion, launch, mission integration and flight-test capabilities to the table, alongside Hypersonix’s scramjet propulsion and hypersonic vehicle technology.
The Gold Coast rocket builder first announced plans to get into hypersonic testing in 2024.
Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill said defence customers need more frequent, responsive and accessible ways to test technologies in hypersonic conditions.
“Working with Gilmour Space will help us meet this need at pace and scale, while exploring new solutions for Australian and allied programs, including under AUKUS Pillar II,” he said.
“On this basis, we see Gilmour Space’s expertise as crucial to strengthening Australia’s sovereign hypersonic capability.”
The partnership was announced at a National Reconstruction Fund event at Parliament House in Canberra today. The NRF invested in both deep tech companies.
Hypersonix, founded in 2019, raised $46 million in a Series A, nearly 12 months ago, when the NFR, chipped in $10m for its first defence sector investment.
