Raytheon Technologies, a US aerospace and defence business, invested in Hermeus Corporation through its venture financing arm, RTX Ventures.
Hermeus is working on hypersonic aircraft for military and commercial use.
It secured a deal with the US Air Force (USAF) in August 2020 to supply hypersonic flight as a possible solution for Air Force One transportation.
“We made our first investment in a startup with such a daring plan and ambition in this field because hyppersonic technologies are crucial to national security,” said Daniel Ateya, managing director of RTX Ventures.
“Hermeus‘ technical approach and business plan strike a compromise between near-term defence uses and long-term commercial objectives, allowing our customers to rethink hypersonic technologies.”
Raytheon’s funding will help Hermeus finish its first plane, Quarterhorse, and speed up the construction of its next plane, Darkhorse.
Hermeus unveiled a full-scale Quarterhorse aircraft prototype in November 2021.
With the introduction of hypersonic weapons in the arsenals of other world powers, such as Russia and China, hypersonic technology has become a priority for the US military.
The US Missile Defense Agency announced on May 11, 2022, that it will
“create and deploy a layered missile defence system to safeguard the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends from missile strikes in all phases of flight,” with a focus on hypersonic platforms.
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