Northrop Grumman partners with Hermeus on high-speed autonomous military aircraft
The agreement will bring Northrop Grumman’s military expertise to Hermeus’s Quarterhorse jet.
Northrop Grumman and US start-up Hermeus have announced a partnership to develop a new class of high-speed uncrewed aircraft for military operations.
The agreement, announced on 12 November, aims to equip Hermeus’s Quarterhorse aircraft with Northrop Grumman’s mission systems, enabling the experimental jets to potentially fulfil future operational roles.
Northrop Grumman says the partnership is part of its efforts to work with emerging defence technology companies to meet the US Department of War’s demand for faster delivery of new defence aircraft.
“As the threat environment accelerates, the Department of War needs autonomous systems developed and fielded in months, not years,” says Northrop Grumman.
Quarterhorse development
Hermeus announced plans for its uncrewed Quarterhorse experimental aircraft in 2021, as part of its longer-term ambition to produce a reusable flight vehicle capable of exceeding Mach 5.
The company first flew its supersonic-capable Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 in March 2026, before breaking the sound barrier with the aircraft in May, reaching Mach 1.21. The aircraft subsequently reached Mach 1.6 and successfully released a demonstration payload in July of that year.
Its successor, the Quarterhorse Mk 2.2, began flight testing in September 2026, with the Mk 2.3 scheduled to follow in 2027.
Hermeus also plans to introduce two further variants – the Mk 3 and Mk 4 – in 2028 and 2029, respectively, to test turbine-to-ramjet propulsion and sustained high-Mach flight.
Hermeus is developing a series of Quarterhorse aircraft, each building towards its ultimate goal of achieving Mach 5 hypersonic flight. Source: Hermeus
The companies have not specified which Quarterhorse variant will be involved in the Northrop Grumman partnership.
Northrop’s autonomous aircraft
The Hermeus partnership adds to Northrop Grumman’s broader involvement in autonomous military aviation, including its work in the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) sector through its YFQ-48A Talon Blue aircraft.
The UK Royal Navy recently selected Talon Blue for a hybrid air wing demonstration, as the service explores integrating uncrewed aircraft into its carrier aviation operations.
While Talon Blue is being developed for a different set of operational requirements, the Hermeus partnership represents another avenue for Northrop Grumman to expand its involvement in autonomous military aviation, this time focusing on high-speed aircraft.
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