Brisbane Firm Races to Build the World's First Hydrogen-Powered Hypersonic Jet

A Brisbane-based company is working with US defence agencies and NASA to develop a hypersonic aircraft. Hypersonix Launch Systems has designed the DART AE, a demonstrator powered by its own Spartan scramjet engine. The project aims to achieve the first sustained hypersonic flight using green hydrogen as fuel. The DART AE measures 11.5 feet in length and relies on the Spartan engine for propulsion. This engine, 3D-printed by Hypersonix, operates between Mach 5 and Mach 12 using high-temperature alloys. The company has partnered with NASA, the US Defense Innovation Unit, and Kratos to test the proof of concept.

The United States is pushing to create the world’s first hydrogen-fueled hypersonic jet, capable of speeds up to Mach 12. Other firms, such as Lockheed Martin, are also advancing in this field. Its SR-72, a hypersonic successor to the SR-71 Blackbird, is expected to enter service in the 2030s. The SR-71 currently holds the record as the fastest conventional aircraft, exceeding Mach 3.

Competition in hypersonic development is growing. Companies like Spike Aerospace and China’s COMAC are also pursuing similar concepts. If successful, the DART AE will mark a milestone in aviation history. It would be the first sustained hypersonic flight powered by green hydrogen. The technology could reshape the future of high-speed air travel and defence applications.