Hypersonica has completed the first flight test of a privately developed European hypersonic missile, achieving speeds beyond Mach 6 and a range exceeding 300 kilometers. The Munich-based startup reported that all onboard systems performed nominally during ascent and descent, validating subcomponents at extreme velocities. Remarkably, the prototype progressed from project launch to flight in nine months. Supported by a €23 million funding round, the company plans phased trials leading to full operational capability by 2029. Hypersonica’s modular architecture and “software-enabled mass hardware” approach allow continuous performance upgrades via software rather than extensive hardware redesign, significantly reducing development timelines and costs compared to traditional procurement models.
