Hermeus Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 completes hypersonic weapons-release test
Hermeus's uncrewed Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 completed a stores separation flight test over New Mexico on July 31, 2026, releasing an external payload in flight, its fifth flight since spring 2026 under the Pentagon's HyCAT program. Sources: Tech Times, Army Recognition.
Hermeus's uncrewed Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, an F-16-sized aircraft powered by a Pratt and Whitney F100 engine, completed a stores separation flight test over New Mexico on July 31, 2026, cleanly releasing an external payload in flight. It was the aircraft's fifth flight since spring 2026 under the Pentagon's HyCAT program, which the Defense Innovation Unit says is running about four times faster than classical hypersonic test programs. Hermeus's DIU contract has grown from a $23 million to a $219 million ceiling. The test covered only transonic speeds up to Mach 1.2; no aircraft has ever released a payload at true hypersonic speed, and the next milestone targets Mach 3. Source: Tech Times (Collin Mercer, Jul 31 2026), Army Recognition (Erwan Halna du Fretay, Aug 1 2026, citing a DIU statement).