Brisbane’s Hypersonix Launch Systems was selected for the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities program. The program is run by the Silicon Valley-based Defence Innovation Unit (DIU), part of the US Department of Defense.
DIU selected Hypersonix from a field of 63 major international aerospace companies. Potential production contracts could be worth up to $US500 million.
Hypersonix's success shows how our grants support manufacturers in the growing aerospace, defence and space sectors.
In 2021, Hypersonix received an Accelerating Commercialisation grant of over $900,000. This helped the company develop a hydrogen-fuelled scramjet engine. The engine can put small satellites into low-level orbit.
In 2022, Hypersonix received a Modern Manufacturing Initiative grant of over $8 million to develop a flight-ready hypersonic drone (DART AE). The drone can be launched with a sounding rocket and used for multiple missions.