Australian hypersonic flight developer Hypersonix Launch Systems has set a launch window for the milestone test of its DART AE scramjet-powered vehicle, marking new progress for the company in achieving sustained hypersonic flight. Founded in 2019, Hypersonix focuses on developing autonomous hypersonic aircraft based on its proprietary SPARTAN scramjet engine, with the goal of achieving stable flight at high speeds, range, and altitude.
The SPARTAN is a 3D-printed, reusable scramjet engine designed for speeds exceeding Mach 5. It uses hydrogen fuel instead of traditional kerosene propellant, offering zero carbon dioxide emissions. The upcoming Cassowary Vex mission will launch the DART AE using a dedicated Rocket Lab rocket named "That's Not A Knife" from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia, USA. The mission is scheduled to commence no earlier than late February, with the specific date to be confirmed within 24 hours of the window opening.
During the flight, Hypersonix will deploy the 3.5-meter-long DART AE hypersonic aircraft to validate the performance of the propulsion system, high-temperature materials, sensors, and control systems in a real hypersonic environment. This will be the DART AE's first flight, aiming to demonstrate the fundamental principles of hydrogen-powered hypersonic flight in the upper atmosphere, distinct from ground testing. The hydrogen-fueled scramjet offers a reusable, lower-maintenance-cost solution for high-speed defense and aerospace applications.
The underlying technology was developed by Hypersonix co-founder Dr. Michael Smart, a former University of Queensland professor and ex-NASA research scientist. Dr. Smart stated, "DART AE enables us to validate the performance of the propulsion system, materials, and control systems at speeds and temperatures that simply cannot be replicated on the ground." "The knowledge we gain from this mission will directly guide the development of next-generation operational hypersonic vehicles."
Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill said, "This flight reflects years of engineering work and the confidence of our partners at DIU, NASA, and Rocket Lab." "It takes us a significant step closer to operational hypersonic systems that are reusable, sustainable, and of strategic importance to Australia and its allies." Launch details indicate the mission name is Cassowary Vex, with clients including the Defense Innovation Unit and Hypersonix. More information will be available via Rocket Lab channels and a YouTube livestream.
The Cassowary Vex campaign follows Hypersonix's completion of a A$46 million Series A funding round, supported by Australia's National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and Queensland Investment Corporation, led by UK's High Tor Capital, with participation from Europe's Saab and Poland's RKKVC. The funds will accelerate flight testing, expand manufacturing capacity in Queensland, and advance the development of the VISR, a reusable hypersonic platform for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The company employs over 50 staff in Brisbane across engineering, manufacturing, and other fields to build its hypersonic flight portfolio.
