Gilmour Space and Hypersonix partner to advance Australian hypersonic capability

Queensland-based aerospace companies Gilmour Space Technologies and Hypersonix Launch Systems have signed an agreement to develop hypersonic flight-test options for defence and commercial programs in Australia and overseas.

The partnership brings together Gilmour Space’s rocket propulsion, launch, mission integration and flight-test capabilities with Hypersonix’s scramjet propulsion and hypersonic vehicle technology, the two companies say in a joint media release. The two companies are portfolio companies of the federal government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation. The partnership was announced during an NRF Connect event at Parliament House in Canberra.

Hypersonic flight generally refers to speeds of Mach 5 and above, or at least five times the speed of sound. Gilmour Space is awaiting regulatory approval to launch its first hypersonic mission, a re-purposed second stage of its Eris orbital launcher, by the end of this year. The company has already launched a three-stage Eris Block 1 rocket from its Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland – the rocket failed a short distance into the mission – and it plans to launch a second mission early in 2027, once the launch pad is free.

Growing demand for hypersonic testing is being driven by the development of systems and enabling technologies including advanced sensors, communications, guidance systems and high-temperature materials. Flying these things on a hypersonic test vehicle gives manufacturers crucial experience and flight qualification.

Hypersonix flew its first hypersonic mission, a DART air vehicle powered by a Spartan hydrogen-fuelled ramjet engine, earlier this year from a launch pad in the USA. It did this under the US Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Hypersonic and High Cadence Testing (HyCAT) program and could launch a DART from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in 2027.

Gilmour Space co-founder and CEO Adam Gilmour said the agreement could give customers 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.”

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.

“Defence customers need more frequent, responsive and accessible ways to test technologies in representative hypersonic conditions,” Mr Hill said.

“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. On this basis, we see Gilmour Space’s expertise as crucial to strengthening Australia’s sovereign hypersonic capability.”

Together, the companies aim to strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial base by retaining critical intellectual property, skills, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing capacity in Australia.