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Hermeus has announced that it has completed the first flight of its latest supersonic Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 aircraft.
This flight is the company's second first flight in less than a year. It completed the first flight of the Mk 1 in May 2025, which Hermeus claims validated the company's development approach. The Mk 2.1 is roughly the size of an F-16 and is significantly faster than its predecessor. The company states that it is one of the largest unmanned aircraft ever built.
The flight marks the beginning of a test campaign to see if the unmanned aircraft can reach supersonic speeds. It was conducted at Spaceport America over White Sands Missile Range airspace in New Mexico. The Mk 2.1 was flown remotely from Hermeus' ground-based flight deck, which validates its aircraft systems, handling qualities and operational procedures.
"Speed is the fundamental requirement for our flight systems and for our company," said AJ Piplica, Hermeus CEO and founder. "We're building and flying aircraft on timelines that match the urgency of the world we're in. Today's flight kicks off a critical flight test campaign that will ultimately get us to supersonic speeds, bringing the United States closer to having the high-speed capability it needs now, not decades from now."
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Hermeus' Quarterhorse program follows a development roadmap where multiple are designed, built, and flown in quick succession, with each increasing in speed and performance based on data from the previous. Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 will be followed by the Mk 2.2, which the company expects to become the world's fastest unmanned aircraft. Hermeus' end goal is to unlock sustained ramjet-powered flight for the U.S. within this decade.