Hermeus unveiled Ramjet-X on September 9, 2026, introducing an expendable, air-launched test vehicle designed to lower the cost of high-Mach flight testing. The system will be deployed from the company’s reusable Quarterhorse Commercial-Aircraft, eliminating the need for traditional rocket boosters to reach ignition speeds.

In a press release issued on September 9, 2026, the venture-backed defense aviation company detailed its plans to offer “Flight Test as a Service” (FTaaS). By utilizing the Quarterhorse as a reusable first stage, Hermeus aims to provide a scalable platform for testing payloads, sensors, and materials in sustained high-Mach environments. Integrated vehicle testing for Ramjet-X is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Architecture and testing strategy

Ramjet engines require significant initial speed to ignite and operate effectively. Historically, this has necessitated the use of expensive, expendable rocket boosters for each test flight. Hermeus is bypassing this requirement by using its Quarterhorse aircraft to carry and launch Ramjet-X at high speeds and altitudes.

According to reporting by Aviation Week, the Quarterhorse program is advancing through a series of iterative vehicles, including the Mk 2.1, Mk 2.2, and Mk 2.3 variants. The Mk 2.1 recently demonstrated the ability to release a missile-like store during flight, validating the air-launch concept required for Ramjet-X. The follow-on Mk 2.2 is expected to reach speeds of Mach 2 or greater.

“High-speed flight testing is extremely expensive, and you don’t get many shots at it,” Hermeus Chief Executive Officer Zach Shore stated in the press release. “Ramjet-X gives us a way to put new systems into sustained high-Mach environments without building an expensive one-off test program every time.”

Corporate expansion and defense contracts

The Ramjet-X announcement follows a period of significant growth for Hermeus. Earlier in 2026, the company achieved a post-money valuation of $1 billion and relocated its headquarters from Georgia to El Segundo, California, according to Axios. High-temperature structures for Ramjet-X are currently in development at the new El Segundo facility, while ramjet engine testing is underway at the Hermeus HEAT facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

The company’s high-speed testing initiatives are supported by the United States Department of Defense. On May 28, 2026, Hermeus received a $159 million Contracts extension from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), bringing the total ceiling value of the award to $219 million. This funding supports the development of a high-speed, uncrewed testbed aircraft.

Shore noted in the company statement that combining speed, sustained flight, and scalability into a single system lowers the barriers to gathering data in extreme conditions. This architecture is intended to accelerate development timelines for both Hermeus and its commercial and government customers.

AirPro News analysis

We view the Ramjet-X program as a pragmatic stepping stone in Hermeus’ broader ambition to field operational hypersonic aircraft. By decoupling the high-Mach testbed from the launch vehicle, the company is adopting a modular approach that mitigates the financial risks associated with expendable rocket boosters. If the 2027 integrated flight tests are successful, the FTaaS model could disrupt the current high-speed testing market, which is currently bottlenecked by limited infrastructure and high per-flight costs. The recent $219 million DIU contract ceiling indicates strong institutional interest in expanding domestic high-Mach testing capacity.

Sources: Hermeus

The Netherlands Ministry of Defence and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed a Letter of Intent on September 10, 2026, for the Dutch procurement of a Saab GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. The agreement establishes a framework for the Netherlands to build an independent long-range surveillance capability while contributing to a shared operational pool with the Swedish Air Force.

In a press release issued on September 10, 2026, Saab AB confirmed the agreement, noting that a formal contract and firm order have not yet been finalized. The procurement aligns with a broader North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) initiative to replace the alliance’s aging Boeing E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet, which is scheduled for retirement in 2035.

Transitioning from the E-3A Sentry to GlobalEye

The Dutch military currently relies on the NATO E-3A Sentry fleet for airborne surveillance. The acquisition of a dedicated GlobalEye will allow the Netherlands to operate more independently. According to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, Dutch crews are scheduled to begin training on Swedish GlobalEye aircraft in 2028, with the Delivery of the Dutch aircraft expected in 2031.

The Dutch aircraft will join a shared pool with three Swedish GlobalEye aircraft. Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson stated that the agreement deepens defense cooperation between the two nations, allowing them to take on greater responsibility for collective European defense.

The GlobalEye system utilizes a Bombardier Global 6000/6500 business jet airframe equipped with Saab’s Erieye Extended Range (ER) active electronically scanned array (AESA) Radar-Systems. The system is designed to track air, maritime, and land targets at extended ranges.

Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab, highlighted the strategic value of the platform for the region:

“The system will provide enhanced situational awareness and early warning capabilities across multiple domains, while also strengthening NATO’s ability to operate in an increasingly complex security environment. GlobalEye will enable the Netherlands to detect threats earlier, respond faster, and strengthen both national and collective defence.”

NATO’s shifting airborne surveillance strategy

The Dutch Letter of Intent follows a July 7, 2026, agreement among 11 NATO allies, including the Netherlands and Sweden, to jointly procure up to 10 GlobalEye aircraft. This joint procurement is intended to replace the 14 Boeing E-3A Sentry aircraft that have been in service since 1982.

The selection of the Saab GlobalEye represents a pivot in European defense procurement. In November 2025, European NATO partners canceled plans to acquire the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail. The cancellation occurred after the United States Air Force removed the E-7A from its fiscal 2026 spending plan, prompting European nations to prioritize investment in European aerospace industry solutions.

AirPro News analysis

We view the Dutch commitment to the Saab GlobalEye as a critical step in solidifying Europe’s defense industrial base. The collapse of the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail procurement for European NATO members created a vacuum that Saab has successfully filled. By establishing a shared pool of AEW&C assets between the Netherlands and Sweden, European Air-Forces are moving toward a more integrated, interoperable surveillance network. This model reduces the financial burden on individual nations while maintaining the continuous airborne early warning coverage required in the current geopolitical environment.

Sources: Saab

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and EdgeCortix Inc. have signed a multi-year teaming agreement valued at several million dollars to develop next-generation AI systems for aerial defense platforms. Announced on September 8, 2026, the partnership aims to embed low-latency, energy-efficient AI computing directly onto aerospace mission systems.

According to a press release issued by EdgeCortix, the initial program scope will run from 2026 to 2028. The collaboration focuses on enabling real-time sensor fusion, object recognition, and threat assessment at the point of data generation, reducing the reliance on tactical data links in contested airspace.

Integrating AI into constrained aerospace environments

The joint development targets a critical challenge in modern aerial defense: processing massive amounts of sensor data in environments with strict power and thermal limitations. By processing data at the edge, the systems allow aircraft and uncrewed platforms to operate effectively even when communication networks are bandwidth-constrained or degraded by electronic warfare.

The program will integrate EdgeCortix’s proprietary technology stack alongside the systems engineering expertise of the Defense & Aerospace Business Division at Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The hardware and software integration includes the EdgeCortix SAKURA-II artificial intelligence coprocessor, the MERA compiler and software framework, and the company’s Dynamic Neural Accelerator architecture.

“Next-generation aerial defense platforms will require substantial AI computing capability within tightly constrained power, thermal and operational envelopes,” said Dr. Sakyasingha Dasgupta, Founder and CEO of EdgeCortix Inc. “By combining Kawasaki’s deep aerospace and systems engineering expertise with our chiplet-based AI architecture and MERA software platform, we intend to accelerate the development of intelligent, adaptive and energy-efficient mission systems.”

Recent validations and program timeline

The initial phase of the strategic program encompasses technology development, feasibility studies, system integration, and the creation of prototype platforms. The agreement represents a significant commercial milestone for the Kanagawa, Japan-based AI firm, expanding its footprint in the defense sector.

EdgeCortix enters the Kawasaki Heavy Industries partnership following a series of successful technology validations by United States government entities. On June 30, 2026, the company received a Success Memorandum from the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) after demonstrating the SAKURA-II platform in flight with the U.S. Air Force. Earlier in the year, on January 6, 2026, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) validated the same accelerator for radiation resiliency, clearing the hardware for potential use in orbital and lunar missions.

AirPro News analysis

We view this teaming agreement as a strong indicator of the aerospace industry’s shift toward edge computing. As aerial platforms generate increasingly unmanageable volumes of high-fidelity sensor data, transmitting that information back to ground stations or command aircraft for processing introduces latency and exposes tactical networks to interception or jamming.

By partnering with a specialized edge AI firm rather than relying solely on traditional defense prime contractors for computing architecture, Kawasaki Heavy Industries is positioning itself to field autonomous and semi-autonomous systems capable of localized, real-time decision making. The recent validations of EdgeCortix hardware by the U.S. Air Force and NASA likely provided the technical de-risking necessary for Kawasaki to commit to a multi-year integration program.

Sources: EdgeCortix Inc.