Aerospace company Hermeus has signed a US$ 60 million partnership with the United States Air force for flight testing its first Mach 5 aircraft. The aircraft is named “Quarterhorse” and if everything goes according to plan, it will be the fastest aircraft in the world. For now, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is considered the fastest aircraft and it can reach up to Mach 3.3 which is more than 3 500 kph (2 100 mph).

Also Read: Military Aircraft That Are Faster Than Mach 2.0 (15 Photos)

The company says that the aircraft Quarterhorse will validate their turbine-based combined cycle engine (TBCC) which is based around a GE J85 turbojet engine. By the end of the flight test, Quarterhorse will be the fastest reusable aircraft with a TBCC engine, said the firm.

This aircraft can fly from New York to London within 90 minutes and Los Angeles to Tokyo within 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Vector Initiative program manager Lt. Col. Joshua Burger said that “Small business partnership is recognized by the U.S. Air Force as an important component to driving innovation. Reducing risk in high-speed transport technologies, as we are doing with this contract, provides near-term and long-term benefits to both the U.S. Air Force and the defense industrial base” 

This partnership also has the support from US Air force research laboratory (AFRL).

Photo credits and more: Hermeus

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