A new experimental hypersonic cruise ship could start flying early next summer, on the initiative of the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The Dart AE high-speed test aircraft is being developed by Australia-based Hypersonix Launch Systems after DIU won the prototype contract.

by site The company’s DART AE is a 9.8 feet (3 meters) long, 660 pounds (300 kilograms) scramjet technology demonstrator capable of speeds of up to Mach 7. (1 Mach speed of sound, is approximately 767 mph or 1,235 km/h at sea level. “Hypersonic» usually means flight reaching speeds of Mach 5 or higher.)

The vehicle could be ready next summer as part of the Pentagon’s efforts to increase hypersonic flight testing. informs C4ISRNET.

Operating under the direction of the US Department of Defense, DIU describes itself as an organization focused on accelerating the adoption of commercial and dual-use technologies to solve operational challenges at scale and quickly.

The Pentagon conducts research and development of hypersonic defense programs. As part of this, DIU launched the High Frequency Testing Capacity (HyCAT) project, which allows commercial companies to develop reusable and low-cost test tools and reduce the burden on DoD resources.

HyCAT program manager Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Estep told C4ISRNET that DIU is completing mission details, including flight conditions, launch vehicle supplier and location for next year’s first fully integrated autonomous DART AE flight.

Fenix ​​Space, Inc., located in San Bernardino, California. And Rocket LabLocated in Long Beach, California, also contracts DIU to a reusable towed launch platform and a Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) rocket, respectively.