Space Engine Systems has secured a spot in a $1.27 billion program designed to develop the United Kingdom’s first hypersonic missile.
Following its selection, the Edmonton-based aerospace company will be eligible to compete for contracts under Defence Equipment & Support’s Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework agreement.
The framework will accelerate the development of the U.K.’s homegrown hypersonic capabilities over seven years, the company said.
According to SES President and Chief Technology Officer Pradeep Dass, the company will deliver advanced solutions to address the complex challenges of hypersonic flight while supporting the growth of the U.K.’s space industrial base.
To bolster its participation in the effort, SES said it will use the technology behind the Spaceplanes program, a system envisioned to transport space payloads at the lowest cost possible and eventually support human landing on the moon.
The Canadian company noted that it completed testing the engine, which will serve as the model propulsion solution for the hypersonic platform.
SES will also employ its Spaceports in the United States and the U.K., including the facilities’ skilled workforce, to potentially win available contracts under the HTCDF program.
SES is among the 90 organizations selected to advance the development of the U.K.’s internal hypersonic technology, with the project focusing on key areas such as design and integration, modeling and testing, and airframe and power generation.
