Latest news with #hypersonic
The Sun
7 hours ago
- Science
- The Sun
UK-led plan to build 4,000mph hypersonic plane ‘The Sabre' that flies on edge of space going from London to NY in 60mins
BRITAIN is leading plans to build a hypersonic plane that could fly on the edge of space and travel from London to New York City in 60 minutes. With a breakthrough design and cutting-edge technology, "The Sabre" will be able to fly at a speed of Mach 5 (4000mph) - which is five times the speed of sound. 6 6 6 And engineers are inching closer to putting the state-of-the-art machine in the skies - which could happen as early as 2031. The £6million plan to develop the jet of the future is called Invictus, which is being led by UK-based Frazer-Nash consultants. Plans launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) are to develop a fully reusable experimental aircraft that can fly at sustained hypersonic speeds. It will fly on the edge of space and will also have horizontal takeoff capabilities. This means that flying time from London to New York will be slashed from seven hours to just 60 minutes. The Invictus testing vehicle will be upgradable, allowing for the exchange of materials, software and propulsion systems between flight test campaigns. At the centre of the futuristic technology is a pre-cooler system, which has been tested for the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (Sabre). Sabre engines combine aspects of jet and rocket propulsion and can pull oxygen out of the air during flight at lower levels of Earth's atmosphere, increasing efficiency. While flying at speeds such as Mach 5, overheating and air friction are the main problems. Pre-cooler systems solve this problem, cooling "the air before it reaches the engine, allowing conventional aircraft engines to travel at hypersonic speeds," Frazer-Nash said in a statement. Watch moment hypersonic jet 'Quarterhorse' makes first flight in big step towards trips from London to NYC in 90 mins It is understood that over the next 12 months, the highly-skilled team at Invictus will finish the concept design and develop a full flight system for the aircraft to fly by 2031. Sarah Wilkes, chief at Frazer-Nash said: "INVICTUS is an exciting opportunity to provide advanced technology for space and advanced capabilities in defence. "With strong industry support and deep engineering and aerospace expertise, including Frazer-Nash colleagues with a decade of propulsion experience, we have all the right ingredients to make this ambitious vision a reality.' Tony Forsythe, Head of Space Technology at the UK Space Agency, added: 'This exciting project, made possible by our investments in the European Space Agency, has significant potential to build on advanced cooling and hypersonic propulsion technology developed by UK engineers over many years." Meanwhile, a hypersonic passenger jet which could take travelers from London to New York City in just one hour is set to arrive as "as soon as the 2030s". The Venus Stargazer is being developed by Venus Aerospace who revealed that it was planning a flight demo "later this summer". The company said that thanks to a Nasa-funded breakthrough, the "record-setting" engine system is nearly ready to try out for real. Venus hopes that its rocket engine will be able to blast passengers around the Earth in record time. " Stargazer M4 is Earth's first hypersonic, reusable aircraft," Venus Aerospace boasted. "No one has ever built a hypersonic platform that makes two-hour global transport cost-effective. Until now. Meanwhile, a massive plane dubbed the 'Skytanic' is set to take to the skies by 2030. The US is reportedly planning for a 'Son of Blackbird' jet that could become the world's fastest plane. And another hypersonic jet could whisk passengers from London to Sydney in just two hours. 6 6 6
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Spaceport Cornwall to help develop hypersonic defences
Spaceport Cornwall has been selected by the government to help develop hypersonic defence technology for the site based at Cornwall Newquay Airport is one of 90 organisations chosen to be part of the Ministry of Defence's £1bn Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development seven-year programme aims to research and develop hypersonic technology - such as guidance systems, warheads and liquid propellants - as part of the government's Strategic Defence bosses said the site's horizontal launch capabilities and location opposite RAF St Mawgan were beneficial for the scheme. Ross Hulbert, head of engagement at Spaceport Cornwall, said the site was ready to support the testing, development and deployment of the UK's future defences."This is a defining moment for Spaceport Cornwall and demonstrates our commitment to supporting Britain's defence capabilities," he said."Our unique position as the UK's first licensed spaceport, combined with our world-class facilities and proximity to both civilian and military aviation infrastructure, makes us ideally suited to contribute to this vital national capability," he said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Europe working to launch 'Invictus' hypersonic space plane by 2031 (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Europe doesn't want to be left out of the space plane party. The European Space Agency (ESA) is funding the development of a hypersonic space plane pathfinder, which will start flying by 2031 if all goes according to plan. The work is being done via a research program called Invictus, which is led by the consulting firm Frazer-Nash. Invictus will leverage technology developed by the English company Reaction Engines Ltd., which aimed to build a huge space plane called Skylon but went bankrupt last year. The key piece of Invictus tech is a "pre-cooler," which Reaction Engines built and tested for its Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE). SABRE combined aspects of jet and rocket propulsion; it was designed to pull oxygen out of the air during flight at lower levels of Earth's atmosphere, reducing the need to carry propellant and therefore increasing efficiency. "Aircraft that fly at hypersonic speeds — more than 5 times the speed of sound — face extremely high temperatures due to shock heating and the friction from the air. Typical aircraft engines cannot operate in these conditions, as the air is too hot to handle," Frazer-Nash representatives said in a statement. This pre-cooler solves this problem, cooling "the air before it reaches the engine, allowing conventional aircraft engines to travel at hypersonic speeds," Frazer-Nash added. Invictus isn't a huge project; its funding is 7 million pounds (about $9.4 million US at current exchange rates), according to the company. But it could have a big impact on European spaceflight, according to ESA. "Hypersonic flight is not just the next frontier of aerospace — it is the gateway to a new paradigm of mobility, defense, and space access," Tommaso Ghidini, head of the Mechanical Department at the agency, said in the same statement. "With Invictus, Europe is seizing the opportunity to lead in technologies that will redefine how we move across the planet and reach beyond it," he added. "By mastering reusable, air-breathing propulsion, we are laying the foundation for aircraft that take off like planes and reach orbit like rockets — revolutionizing both terrestrial and orbital transportation." Related Stories: — US and UK militaries pick Rocket Lab's HASTE launcher to help test hypersonic tech — Facts about Reaction Engines' Skylon space plane — Space Force aims to launch 1st 'Foo Fighter' satellites in 2027 to track hypersonic threats The plan calls for the Invictus team — a consortium led by Frazer-Nash that includes Spirit AeroSystems and Cranfield University, among other partners — to deliver "the concept and elements of preliminary design of the full flight system" 12 months from now. The "full flight system" will be a reusable vehicle that takes off from, and lands on, a runway like an airplane. It will be up and running by early 2031, if all goes to plan, and could have a variety of uses and applications. "We look forward to seeing how the work develops and the opportunity it presents for boosting economic growth and national security," Tony Forsythe, head of space technology at the U.K. Space Agency, said in the same statement. Invictus isn't the only European space plane in development. Last month, for example, the French government and the French company Dassault Aviation announced plans for a demonstrator called VORTEX. Space planes are experiencing something of a resurgence after the retirement of the most famous such vehicle — NASA's space shuttle — in 2011. The U.S. military operates a robotic orbital space plane called the X-37B, for example, and China has a similar vehicle, called Shenlong. Virgin Galactic flies a suborbital space plane for tourism and research purposes. A number of other companies are developing space planes as well, including Sierra Nevada Corp., Dawn Aerospace and Radian Aerospace.
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Hypersonic version of BrahMos on the cards – ex-CEO
Russia and India could produce a hypersonic version of the BrahMos cruise missile, Atul Rane, the former director general of BrahMos Aerospace, told RT in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. Rane, who is Moscow, said there are numerous BrahMos variants and that the two countries have been improving them over the years. 'The technology bricks are being laid by the Russian side and the Indian side, and when those technology bricks are fully ready, there will be a BrahMos hypersonic missile someday,' Rane said. The missiles are manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. India's Defense Research and Development Organization has a 50.5% stake in the company, while Russian NPO Mashinostroyenia holds 49.5%. ❗️🇮🇳🇷🇺 BrahMos HYPERSONIC Missile Incoming!?The former Director General of BrahMos Aerospace tells RT that the "bricks are being laid" for a hypersonic missile between India & Russia. Atul Rane also says a mini BrahMos is being worked on right now to equip aircraft. On Sunday, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh praised the 'outstanding role' that BrahMos missiles played in defending his country as part of 'Operation Sindoor' during the military confrontation with Pakistan in May, adding they achieved a 'miraculous feat.' In his interview with RT, Rane said, 'Till now, officially the government of India has not explained which are the vectors used in Operation Sindoor, but analysis has shown that BrahMos was used and it's almost definite that Operation Sindoor, though we say is still on… the escalation was stopped because BrahMos was used. There's no doubt about that.' Indian Defense Minister Singh stated on Sunday that up to 15 countries have expressed interest in buying the missiles. Commenting to RT, Rane said 'everyone is interested in BrahMos,' adding that an inter-governmental agreement means the missiles can only be exported to 'friendly' countries acceptable to both Moscow and New Delhi. Southeast Asian countries are seen as a priority market, according to the former BrahMos top executive. Rane also said the Indo-Russian joint venture is looking at a 'smaller version' of the missile to equip aircraft, dubbed the 'BrahMos next generation.'
Times of Oman
13-07-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
India moves forward in developing K-6 missile
With a planned range of over 8,000 kilometres and the ability to carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), the K-6 marks a bold leap in India's strategic weapons programme, firmly placing the country among the few global powers with ultra-long-range hypersonic strike capabilities. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and being readied for deployment on the future nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) of the Indian Navy, the K-6 represents not just technological advancement, but a powerful symbol of strategic maturity and self-reliance. A technological triumph The K-6 missile is being designed with cutting-edge propulsion and guidance systems that allow it to fly at hypersonic speeds — more than five times the speed of sound — and remain highly manoeuvrable through its flight path. This gives it not only speed and reach but also the ability to avoid interception from current-generation missile defence systems. The missile's MIRV capability — which allows it to carry and deploy multiple warheads to separate targets — represents a significant force multiplier. This technical complexity and precision underscore India's rising stature in the global missile development arena, positioning the country as a leader in high-end aerospace innovation. Strategic independence and Atmanirbhar Bharat The K-6 project is yet another shining example of India's resolve to develop indigenous defence capabilities. As part of the broader 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) initiative, the DRDO and associated institutions have been committed to ensuring that India's most critical defence assets are developed and produced domestically. From advanced composites for missile airframes to indigenous solid-fuel propulsion technologies, and from indigenous inertial navigation systems to cutting-edge MIRV tech, the K-6 showcases the best of Indian scientific and engineering talent. Moreover, the missile project has created a ripple effect across India's defence ecosystem, fostering innovation among startups, boosting local manufacturing, and contributing to the growth of a self-sustaining defence-industrial base. Indian scientists, engineers, and strategists are now working at the frontier of global military technology. Navy's new era The development of the K-6 goes hand in hand with India's naval expansion strategy. With plans underway for constructing the next generation of SSBNs, including those with greater endurance and improved stealth, the K-6 is expected to be the principal strategic weapon aboard these vessels. This alignment between platform and payload signifies a strategic integration that ensures not just the deployment of high-tech systems but their seamless incorporation into operational doctrine and mission planning. With the induction of the K-6, the synergy between conventional maritime power and strategic capability will be complete.
