The German-British aerospace startup Hypersonica, established based on the Technical University of Munich, has successfully conducted tests of the first prototype of its hypersonic missiles. This was reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
According to representatives of Hypersonica, the test launches were conducted in Norway. During the tests, the aircraft managed to reach a speed of 7400 km/h and achieve a range of 300 km.
“Germany can also create hypersonic missiles. The Munich-based weapons startup Hypersonica has now taken a decisive step forward. The first test flight from the Norwegian spaceport Andøya was successful,” stated the startup’s management.
According to observers, 23.3 million euros have been spent on the project. Representatives of Hypersonica stated that the goal of the enterprise is to provide Europe with economically efficient and maneuverable hypersonic missiles by 2029.
Hypersonica, founded in December 2023 by Oxford University PhDs and German citizens Dr. Mark Evens and Dr. Philipp Kurt, initially developed with the support of TUM Venture Labs. The company’s headquarters is located in the Munich area, and its wholly-owned subsidiary is based in London. Its establishment coincided with a decisive shift in European defense priorities, particularly the British-German agreement Trinity Houtilize, which deepened bilateral cooperation in advanced defense technologies. This combination of increased political will, industrial potential, and a team with deep technical knowledge allows Hypersonica to rapidly develop sovereign hypersonic systems.
Ian Hogarth, a partner at Plural, stated: “Plural is proud to support Hypersonica, an innovative defense company led by ambitious founders who, like us, are committed to safeguarding peace and prosperity in Europe. With offices in Munich and the UK, Hypersonica is firmly rooted in the centers of excellence in hypersonic technologies in Europe.”
Rafael Laguna de la Vera, director of SPRIND, stated: “SPRIND has a proven track record of overcoming the ‘valley of death’ for breakthrough technologies from lab to production. Our decision to invest in Hypersonica reflects our confidence in their exceptionally strong team and the steady progress they are building in the complex physical processes of hypersonic flight – a capability that will contribute to Europe’s defense autonomy and lay the groundwork for future autonomous access to space. By investing early in strategically important innovations as a government entity, we demonstrate support for the public sector and catalyze the influx of private capital and partnerships with indusattempt.”
Jeanette zu Fürstenberg, president and managing director of General Catalyst, stated: “The European defense industrial base necessarys founders capable of creating advanced capabilities at the speed required at this moment. Mark and Philipp are creating sovereign maneuverable hypersonic systems that strengthen deterrence and maintain peace. The time to act is now.”
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