New hypersonic test facility opens in Florida

Located at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, HEAT (High Enthalpy Air-Breathing Test Facility) will enable Hermeus to create the conditions required for high-supersonic and low-hypersonic flight modelling. The firm will apply continuous high flow rate, high enthalpy and low-pressure to test its Chimera engine - which uses a combined cycle turbine and ramjet to hit speeds up to Mach 5.

“The United States is lacking in the capability to rapidly and economically test air-breathing hypersonic engines,” he said.

“The few test facilities available have years-long waitlists and are prohibitively expensive. The commercially operated testing services that we will offer at our HEAT facility are more economical and responsive to dynamic test requirements and are better suited to match the ever-changing needs of the warfighter.”

According to Hermeus, HEAT will be built in phases, with initial sea-level static engine tests starting before the end of 2024. As a former Naval Air Station, Cecil Airport has significant test infrastructure already in place, including multiple test cells and an aircraft hush house which Hermeus will inherit.

Future build phases will introduce ‘continuous high-Mach vitiated air flow’ to simulate high-Mach testing conditions on the ground. High-Mach flight testing is expected to start in 2026. Hermeus expects to invest $135m in the project and create more than 100 jobs over the course of the decade.

"We are excited that Hermeus is joining Jacksonville's growing aerospace industry,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.

“They are putting our city at the centre of the hypersonic jet development that will forever transform air travel. As a proud military town, we also welcome the work they will perform for the Department of Defense. Jacksonville is fast becoming an innovation hub thanks to companies like Hermeus."