Hermeus
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer developing turbine-based combined cycle engines and unmanned Mach 5+ aircraft for the U.S. Department of Defense, Air Force, Navy, and Defense Innovation Unit, with a future commercial hypersonic transport planned.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersEl Segundo, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hermeus does
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer founded in 2018 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with a planned relocation of corporate headquarters to El Segundo, California in 2026. The company designs, builds, and tests turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion and high-Mach unmanned aircraft for the U.S. Department of War, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the Defense Innovation Unit. Its revenue model is entirely defense-contract based today, with all current contracts being government prototype and rapid-prototyping awards (DIU, AFWERX STRATFI, SBIR Phase II) and no commercial sales; future commercial revenue is contemplated via the Halcyon 20-passenger hypersonic civil transport.
Hermeus' core technology is the Chimera turbine-based combined cycle engine, the world's first commercially-developed TBCC, which uses an off-the-shelf gas turbine core (Pratt & Whitney F100 in Chimera II) combined with a proprietary precooler and ramjet pathway to enable runway takeoff and acceleration to hypersonic speeds without rocket propulsion. Chimera completed full-scale turbojet-to-ramjet mode transition in November 2022. The company operates a hardware-rich iterative test program through the Quarterhorse flight test campaign (Mk 0, Mk 1, Mk 2.1), supported by the proprietary High Enthalpy Air-breathing Test (HEAT) facility in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Flight Deck ground-based command and control system. The intended operational product is the Darkhorse multi-mission reusable hypersonic unmanned aerial system.
Hermeus employs 275+ people across four U.S. locations and has raised approximately $466M+ in disclosed equity funding plus $150M in debt financing, reaching a $1B post-money valuation in April 2026. Key institutional backers include Khosla Ventures, Sam Altman, Canaan Partners, Founders Fund, In-Q-Tel, RTX Ventures (Raytheon), and Bossa Invest. The company is led by incoming CEO Zach Shore (effective June 1, 2026), with co-founder AJ Piplica transitioning to Executive Chairman, alongside a technical leadership bench drawn from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Anduril, and Generation Orbit.
Hermeus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hermeus
- Legal name
- Hermeus Corporation
- Website
- https://hermeus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer developing turbine-based combined cycle engines and unmanned Mach 5+ aircraft for the U.S. Department of Defense, Air Force, Navy, and Defense Innovation Unit, with a future commercial hypersonic transport planned.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hermeus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hypersonic Aircraft Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (336412), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hypersonic Systems (Weapons & Defense) (IMABAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion (IMABAMAD), Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls (IMABAMAE), Special-Mission Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (ISR, AEW&C, Patrol) (IMABAAAH)
Keywords
Where Hermeus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- El Segundo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Hermeus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Defense Government Contracts: Revenue from U.S. Department of Defense contracts including DIU contract ($219M total ceiling), AFWERX STRATFI awards, SBIR Phase II contracts, and direct partnerships with U.S. Air Force, Navy, and other defense organizations. Contract types include prototype agreements and rapid prototyping efforts.
- Future Commercial Hypersonic Transport: Long-term revenue potential from 20-passenger hypersonic civil transport aircraft (Halcyon program). Aircraft designed for operational capability at traditional airports with rapid turnaround similar to modern aircraft.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Hermeus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hermeus designs, builds, and tests high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for the U.S. Department of Defense. Its core offering is the proprietary Chimera turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine, which powers the Quarterhorse flight-test platform and the planned Darkhorse reusable hypersonic UAS. The company sells directly to the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Defense Innovation Unit through negotiated prototype and production contracts.
Product overview
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer developing a portfolio of hypersonic aircraft for defense and eventual commercial applications. The company's product ecosystem centers on its proprietary Chimera turbine-based combined cycle engine, which powers multiple aircraft platforms. The Quarterhorse program serves as the flight test campaign (with Mk 0, Mk 1, and Mk 2.1 variants) to validate high-speed and supersonic capabilities. Darkhorse is the planned operational hypersonic UAS for defense missions, while Halcyon represents the future 20-passenger commercial hypersonic transport. Supporting infrastructure includes the HEAT (High Enthalpy Air-breathing Test) facility and the Flight Deck ground control system. The company works directly with the Department of War and Defense Innovation Unit to deliver unmanned high-speed aircraft for national security.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Quarterhorse: High-speed flight test aircraft program - uncrewed remotely piloted aircraft demonstrating high-Mach capabilities. Includes Mk 0, Mk 1, Mk 2 variants.
- Chimera
- Darkhorse
Products and services
- Chimera Engine The world's first commercially-developed turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine. Operates as a turbine at low speeds and transitions to ramjet mode at higher speeds. Uses precooler technology and off-the-shelf gas turbine engines to enable air-breathing hypersonic propulsion (Mach 5+).
- Quarterhorse High-speed flight test aircraft program with multiple purpose-built variants (Mk 0, Mk 1, Mk 2.1, future variants) demonstrating unmanned high-speed flight for the U.S. military. Mk 2.1 is approximately the size of an F-16, powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100 engine with variable inlet and delta wing design, and achieved Mach 1.21 in May 2026.
- Darkhorse Multi-mission reusable hypersonic UAS (uncrewed aerial system) for defense and national security missions. Designed to be operational at traditional airports with rapid turnaround. Powered by Chimera II engine (F100 turbine core with ramjet). Target speed Mach 5.
- Flight Deck Ground-based command and control system for remotely piloting Quarterhorse aircraft. Built to DoD secure-room standards with dual-redundant cloud architecture and AI/ML technologies. Supports pilot, payload operator, four operational analysts, and observers for off-grid austere-environment operations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Achieved turbojet to ramjet transition demonstrating full hypersonic air-breathing capability in 21 months for $18 million
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hermeus
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hermeus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Hermeus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)core$219M total contract ceiling for high-Mach flight demonstrations. Largest DIU contract, involving collaboration with U.S. Air Force and Navy to transition hypersonic technology from research to operational use.
- Pratt & WhitneycoreEngine supplier providing F100 turbofan engines for integration into Chimera II TBCC engine. F100 engines used in F-15 and F-16 aircraft, with 50+ years of service and 30M flight hours. Partnership includes engine modification for hypersonic applications.
- U.S. Department of DefensecorePhase II SBIR contract partnership with Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) for reusable hypersonic aircraft study.
- U.S. Air Forcecore$60M partnership under AFWERX STRATFI program for Quarterhorse flight testing. Includes Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate collaboration for high-speed mobility evaluation.
- NASAminorPartnership announced for commercial hypersonic technology development under Space Act Agreement.
- Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC)minorAir Force test facility in Tullahoma, Tennessee where Quarterhorse Mk 0 ground testing was conducted.
- Notre Dame Turbomachinery LaboratoryminorUniversity facility used for Chimera engine testing, providing heated air supply to simulate high-Mach temperatures and pressures.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hermeus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stratolaunch: Direct peer in reusable high-speed flight test platforms and hypersonic vehicle development. Both companies are pursuing air-launch and reusable high-Mach architectures, and compete for similar DoD and commercial hypersonic test contracts.
- Reaction Engines: Direct peer in air-breathing hypersonic propulsion technology. Reaction Engines is developing SABRE, a precooler-based combined-cycle engine architecture conceptually adjacent to Hermeus's Chimera TBCC, both targeting reusable hypersonic flight from conventional runways.
- Boom Supersonic: Direct peer in high-speed aircraft development with both defense and commercial aspirations. Boom is developing the Overture supersonic airliner and Symphony engine—mirroring Hermeus's strategy of leveraging a core propulsion platform across multiple vehicle applications.
Emerging players
- Venus Aerospace: Emerging peer in hypersonic propulsion and high-Mach flight. Venus is developing a rotating detonation engine (Stargazer) for hypersonic applications, representing an alternative air-breathing architecture pursuing a similar hypersonic defense and commercial TAM.
- Dawn Aerospace: Emerging peer in reusable high-speed aerospace platforms. Dawn operates the fastest jet-powered unmanned aircraft (Mk-II Aurora) and pursues reusable spaceplane technology, intersecting Hermeus's reusable high-Mach flight profile at lower speed/altitude tiers.
Broad incumbents
- Anduril Industries: Broader defense technology incumbent pursuing similar trajectory as a venture-backed alternative defense prime. Hermeus's incoming CEO (Zach Shore) came from Anduril, and both companies compete for similar DoD program dollars with non-traditional, software-and-speed-centric development approaches.
- RTX (Raytheon): Broad defense incumbent and existing Hermeus investor via RTX Ventures. Competes with Hermeus in hypersonic weapons (e.g., HACM) while also providing the F100 engine core used in Chimera II, creating both partnership and competitive tension.
- Lockheed Martin: Broad incumbent with major hypersonic weapons programs (AGM-183A ARRW, HACM, C-HGB). Competes with Hermeus for DoD hypersonic program-of-record dollars and possesses the lobbying capacity and prime-contractor relationships to influence program decisions.
- Northrop Grumman: Broad defense prime with hypersonic strike programs (HSWAC, HACM) and unmanned aircraft (Global Hawk, B-21) expertise. Competes for similar high-Mach ISR/strike DoD funding and could position its own platforms ahead of Hermeus on program-of-record decisions.
Others
- Sierra Space: Adjacent space technology company and overlapping talent ecosystem. Hermeus's COO (Ken Venner) and CIO (Tim Hampton) both came from Sierra Space; Sierra operates Dream Chaser and pursues reusable spaceplane technology with adjacent technical and customer-base synergies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hermeus social profiles
Digital presenceHermeus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hermeus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Hermeus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds16 records
Investors25 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hermeus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hermeus
What does Hermeus do?
Hermeus designs, builds, and tests high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for the U.S. Department of Defense. Its core offering is the proprietary Chimera turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine, which powers the Quarterhorse flight-test platform and the planned Darkhorse reusable hypersonic UAS. The company sells directly to the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Defense Innovation Unit through negotiated prototype and production contracts.
Is Hermeus a public or private company?
Hermeus is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Hermeus founded?
Hermeus was founded in 2018. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Hermeus based?
Hermeus is headquartered in El Segundo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hermeus make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Defense Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are future Commercial Hypersonic Transport.
Who are Hermeus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stratolaunch, Reaction Engines and Boom Supersonic. Emerging players are Venus Aerospace and Dawn Aerospace. Broad incumbents are Anduril Industries, RTX (Raytheon), Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. Sierra Space is listed as an others.
Does Hermeus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hermeus.
What industry is Hermeus in?
Hermeus's product category is Hypersonic Aircraft Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAOAG, Hypersonic Systems (Weapons & Defense), with a secondary code of IMABAMAD, Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion. Its NAICS code is 336412 and its SIC code is 3724.