GE Aerospace to develop Mach 5 hypersonic

GE Aerospace has received a contract from the US Defense Innovation Unit to develop an air-launched hypersonic test vehicle. The vehicle, named Derecho, is designed to reach speeds of Mach 5.

This contract funds the full integration of the vehicle and initial qualification tests for key subsystems. The company did not disclose the financial value of the award.

Program Goals and Technology

The Derecho vehicle will serve as a test platform for the Pentagon's Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities, or HyCAT, program. It combines a rocket booster with a cruiser powered by GE's dual-mode ramjet technology.

A dual-mode ramjet can function as both a conventional ramjet and a scramjet. This allows operation across a wide range of supersonic and hypersonic speeds. The engine uses atmospheric oxygen for combustion, which could let a vehicle carry more fuel or payload instead of an onboard oxidizer.

Steve "Doogie" Russell, a GE Aerospace vice president, stated the work is critical. "Acceleration in this type of hypersonic testing are critical to advancing next-generation capabilities at speed and scale," he said.

Development Timeline and Path

GE Aerospace is targeting the first flight of the Derecho test vehicle for 2028. This flight would mark the company's first in-flight demonstration of its liquid-fueled dual-mode ramjet technology.

The company's involvement in HyCAT began in 2023 through Innoveering, a firm GE acquired the previous year. The Defense Innovation Unit had initially selected Innoveering to develop an affordable, air-launched hypersonic test bed.

Project milestones included subsystem refinement in 2024 and a preliminary design review of the complete vehicle in 2025. The initial Derecho configuration will not include a rotating detonation combustion system GE is developing for future engines, though that technology could be added later.

Related Testing and Industry Context

GE Aerospace has been actively testing related hypersonic propulsion technologies. In September 2025, the company completed flight tests of a solid-fuel ramjet aboard an F-104 jet operated by Starfighters Aerospace.

Subsequently, GE and Lockheed Martin finished ground tests of a liquid-fueled rotating detonation ramjet in January 2026. The companies claim this technology could allow hypersonic missiles to fly farther while carrying more fuel or payload.

The broader HyCAT program aims to make hypersonic flight testing more frequent and less expensive. It supports the development of vehicles capable of carrying experimental propulsion systems, sensors, and guidance technologies at hypersonic speeds. Russell added that the work builds on years of investment and will help deliver a flexible test solution for national defense.