Structured around the development of Mach 5 aircraft to speed up the global transportation network, aside from their relatively limited SBIR involvment with the rather different use of SBIR support undertaken by the Air Force - small awards made based on a few minute in-person presentation by application - Hermeus Corporation in 2021 also landed a $60 million AFWERX Strategic Funding Increase award from the US Air Force to test the companyâs autonomous aircraft designed to fly at a speed of Mach 5. The firm's management indicated their Quarterhorse reusable aircraft would demonstrate the performance and power of the turbine-based combined cycle engine as part of the follow-on award to the second phase of the Small Business Innovation Research program. TBCC is based on General Electricâs J85 turbojet engine and operates with autonomous and reusable systems. It was also reported that Hermeus would also use hardware and focused requirements in a move to execute a full flight envelope that would cost under $100 million. The company is also using its technology for a project with NASA, demonstrating the technologyâs viability for both civilian and defense applicat
