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 support the development of 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.
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.
About Gilmour Space Technologies
Gilmour Space Technologies is an Australian-owned company developing and manufacturing launch vehicles, satellites and high-speed flight-test services. Headquartered on the Gold Coast, the company also owns and operates Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland.
Together, these sovereign capabilities support commercial, government and defence missions in Australia and overseas. For more information, visit www.gspace.com.
About Hypersonix Launch Systems
Hypersonix is a leading Australian aerospace engineering, design and build company, specialising in hypersonic technology and scramjet engines. Hypersonix designs, builds, and flies autonomous hypersonic aircraft that deliver sustained flight at extreme speed, range, and altitude.
These provide a modular solution to multiple military and commercial markets. For more information, visit https://www.hypersonix.com/
