The dream of a hydrogen-powered hypersonic jet that can fly 12 times the speed of sound just got a serious boost. Brisbane-based Hypersonix Launch Systems has secured $46 million in Series A funding to accelerate the development of its reusable, hydrogen-fueled aircraft – a machine that could redefine both aerospace engineering and defense strategy.
The funding round was led by UK firm High Tor Capital, with support from Saab, the Polish investment group RKKVC, and several international defense investors. Crucially, Australia’s new sovereign investment vehicle, the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), joined in with a $10 million contribution – its first-ever defense investment. The Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) also participated, signaling the government’s growing commitment to building an advanced aerospace industry.
“This raise marks a major milestone as we prepare to launch the world’s first hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft,” said Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill. “It shows confidence in our mission to build clean, reusable aerospace systems that meet today’s national security needs while shaping tomorrow’s industry.”
Founded in 2019 by former NASA research scientist Dr. Michael Smart, Hypersonix employs about 45 engineers and specialists working across propulsion, manufacturing, and testing. At the heart of its system is the SPARTAN scramjet engine – a fully 3D-printed, air-breathing engine with no moving parts that burns hydrogen instead of kerosene. The result is a sustainable propulsion system capable of reaching Mach 12 while producing zero carbon emissions.
“SPARTAN is more than a propulsion system,” said Smart, now the company’s chief technology officer. “It’s a breakthrough in reusable hypersonic flight.” The company’s upcoming test vehicle, DART AE, is a 3.5-meter-long craft that will be launched later this year under the U.S. Department of Defense’s HyCAT program, backed by NASA and the Pentagon. The flight, powered by SPARTAN, aims to achieve the first sustained hypersonic run using green hydrogen.
Hypersonix was chosen from more than 60 applicants for the HyCAT initiative, and its next platform, VISR – an 8-meter reusable aircraft powered by four SPARTAN engines – is already in development. VISR will focus on intelligence, surveillance, payload delivery, and space testing, with construction underway using advanced ceramic composites built to withstand extreme heat.
For Australia, this isn’t just about speed – it’s about sovereignty. “This investment shows Australia is stepping up to develop sovereign capabilities that matter,” said company chairman and former U.S. ambassador Arthur Sinodinos. As global powers race toward hypersonic dominance, Hypersonix’s clean, reusable, and locally built technology could make Australia an unexpected front-runner in the next generation of flight.
