TechnologyAustralian startup Hypersonix sets launch window for first DART AE hypersonic flight
Australian aerospace startup Hypersonix Launch Systems has set a launch window for the first flight of its DART AE hypersonic vehicle, marking a key step in its effort to develop reusable aircraft capable of sustained flight above Mach 5.
The company said the test mission, known as Cassowary Vex, is scheduled to lift off no earlier than late February aboard a Rocket Lab launcher from Wallops Island, Virginia. The flight will deploy DART AE, a 3.5-meter scramjet-powered vehicle designed to validate propulsion, materials, sensors and guidance systems under real hypersonic conditions.
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Brisbane, Hypersonix is developing autonomous hypersonic aircraft using its proprietary SPARTAN scramjet engine. Unlike conventional kerosene-fueled scramjets, SPARTAN is hydrogen-powered and designed to operate without moving parts. The company says the engine is reusable and manufactured using additive techniques, with a target speed of Mach 5 and above.
The upcoming mission will be the first flight of DART AE and is intended to generate in-flight data that cannot be replicated in ground-based test facilities. Hypersonix has positioned the program as a foundation for future operational systems, including military and aerospace applications requiring high speed and extended range.
The launch is being conducted in partnership with Rocket Lab, while the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit is listed as a customer for the mission. Hypersonix has previously received support from NASA and other U.S. partners for aspects of its development program.
The flight test follows a A$46 million Series A funding round announced by the company, backed by Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and Queensland Investment Corporation. The round was led by UK-based High Tor Capital, with participation from Swedish defense group Saab and Polish investor RKKVC.
Hypersonix is also advancing development of a larger reusable hypersonic platform known as VISR (Velos Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), aimed at intelligence and defense missions. The company employs more than 50 staff in Brisbane focused on aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing and testing as it seeks to establish Australia as a player in the emerging hypersonic flight sector.
About the Author
Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
