Atlanta-based defense aviation firm Hermeus announced on Monday a $350 million funding round to advance its unmanned hypersonic aircraft program. The Series B round was led by KKR, with participation from existing investors including Boom Supersonic and Fidelity. The company plans to use the capital to scale production of its Darkhorse drone and fund upcoming flight tests.
Hermeus completed two flight demonstrations in 2025, including a subsonic test of its Quarterhorse prototype in October. The next milestone involves pushing the aircraft beyond Mach 1, with a target speed of Mach 3.8 for operational models. Chief Executive AJ Piplica stated the funding will accelerate both technical development and regulatory approvals.
The Pentagon has shown interest in the program, awarding Hermeus a $60 million contract in 2024 to explore hypersonic strike capabilities. Military applications include rapid reconnaissance and strike missions where traditional jets lack speed. Piplica emphasized the company’s focus on unmanned systems to reduce pilot risks and costs.
Industry analysts note growing demand for hypersonic platforms amid global tensions. The US, China, and Russia have all accelerated such programs. Hermeus aims to deliver a production-ready drone by 2028, positioning itself as a key player in the next generation of defense aviation.
Source: techcrunch.com