Hermeus
Hypersonic aircraft startup developing Mach 5 commercial and defense uncrewed aerial vehicles
Defense & Space
📍 Atlanta, GA
Founded 2018
Current Valuation
$1.0B
as of 2024-Q4
UNICORN
Hermeus is developing reusable Mach 5 hypersonic aircraft, starting with the uncrewed Quarterhorse testbed (first flight 2025) and the Darkhorse reconnaissance UAV. Long-term goal is the Halcyon passenger jet (NY-London in 90 minutes). Multiple US Air Force contracts including a $60M Quarterhorse contract. Founded by SpaceX, Generation Orbit, and Blue Origin alumni.
Company Profile
Growth
Pre-revenue (DoD contract revenue ramping)
Last Round
Series C — $100M (Sep 2024) · Lead: AE Industrial Partners
IPO Status
no imminent plans
Founders & Key People
AJ PiplicaGlenn CaseMike SmaydaSkyler Shuford
Investors
AE Industrial Partners · Founders Fund · Khosla Ventures · Sam Altman · RTX Ventures · Steve Lord
Products
- Quarterhorse (uncrewed Mach 5 testbed)
- Darkhorse (uncrewed reconnaissance UAV)
- Halcyon (passenger Mach 5 jet)
Competitors
Boom Supersonic · Stratolaunch · Lockheed Martin Skunk Works · Reaction Engines
DefenseHypersonicsAerospaceDoD
Private-company numbers are not real-time. Reflects publicly disclosed valuations from press releases, news reports, and tender offers as of 2024-Q4. Refreshed quarterly.