The hypersonic race heats up: German startup hits Mach 6, challenges Russia

Hypersonica, a German defense and aerospace company, claims to have launched a missile prototype capable of reaching speeds exceeding Mach 6 and covering a distance of over 300 kilometers.

Hypersonica says it’s the first privately funded European defense firm to have successfully achieved hypersonic flight, which is traditionally dominated by long-term government programs.

“This is a proud moment for European defense innovation. As Europeans grounded in the values of freedom and democracy, we pursue this work with a clear sense of responsibility for the safe and principled development of this cutting-edge technology,” Hypersonica’s Co-Founders Dr. Philipp Kerth (CEO) and Dr. Marc Ewenz (CTO) state in a press release.

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The defense company intends to plan several follow-up test flights to demonstrate advanced flight control and high-speed maneuverability. Ultimately, the firm aims to deliver hypersonic strike capabilities for Europe by 2029.

Hypersonic missiles, which travel five times faster than the speed of sound while remaining maneuverable in the atmosphere, pose significant technological challenges due to extreme heat and material stresses.

However, due to the missile’s modular design, Hypersonica says it can reduce development costs by more than 80% compared to conventional approaches and shorten development cycles from years to months.

“We’re working to develop a European sovereign strike system in a time frame and at costs that make sense for European governments, including those with more constrained defense budgets. Europe doesn’t have 20 years or billions to spend on developing a hypersonic strike. A new kind of tech-development approach is needed, and that’s what we’re bringing with our rapid iterative approach,” Hypersonica told Defense News in an emailed statement.

In a separate statement, the defense company announced that it raised €23.3 million in a Series A financing round. Hypersonica says the funds will accelerate the company’s roadmap toward full-scale flight testing beginning in the first quarter of 2026 and help meet demand from NATO members for precision-strike capabilities.

Europe’s desire to launch hypersonic missiles is driven by adversaries that claim to operate hypersonic weapons, such as Russia.

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