Queensland-based aerospace companies Gilmour Space Technologies and Hypersonix 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.
Hypersonic flight generally refers to speeds of Mach 5 and above, or at least five times the speed of sound. 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.
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,” 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. Gilmour Space and Hypersonix are portfolio companies of the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation. The partnership was announced during an NRF Connect event at Parliament House in Canberra.
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