The European Space Agency (ESA) and UK-based Frazer-Nash have kicked off INVICTUS, a research programme with the goal of developing hypersonic technologies applicable to future reusable vehicles capable of horizontal launch.
INVICTUS is funded through ESA’s General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and Technology Development Element (TDE) and is a fully reusable experimental aerospace vehicle capable of flying at Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).
The vehicle will demonstrate key technologies for sustained hypersonic flight in the atmosphere and will be upgradable, allowing for the exchange of materials, software and propulsion systems between flight test campaigns.
INVICTUS builds on previous technology developments managed by ESA and will offer industry, agencies and academia an opportunity to test future hypersonic technologies in a relevant environment.
One of the main challenges of operating a hypersonic vehicle is that at high speed, due to shock heating and surface friction, the outer surface of the aircraft and the air entering the engines are extremely hot. These conditions call for specialised technologies as well as unique propulsion systems to power the vehicle through the high speed ranges.
David Perigo, ESA’s chemical propulsion engineer and the programme’s technical lead, explains: “The INVICTUS programme will prove the suitability of a hydrogen-fuelled precooled air-breathing propulsion system for horizontal take-off and hypersonic flight. It will provide an invaluable opportunity to test the complete engine flow path, from intake to afterburner, at full scale in an integrated aircraft.”
The precooler system, building on technology developed through ESA's SABRE study, was designed by UK-based Reaction Engines Ltd and funded through ESA’s GSTP in its initial stages.
This innovative technology, able to chill superheated air in a fraction of a second, has already been successfully demonstrated through integration with conventional jet engines.
In addition to providing a cooling system, the lightweight architecture of a SABRE-like engine paves the way for true spaceplanes, able to take off horizontally from a runway, taking us a step closer to widespread access to space.
Mark Ford, Head of ESA's Chemical Propulsion Section, comments: “INVICTUS is an important next step in developing the technologies required for future spaceplanes and will give Europe a unique asset for exploring this type of flight.”
Sarah Wilkes, Managing Director at Frazer-Nash, said: “INVICTUS is an exciting opportunity to provide advanced technology for space and realise dual-use capabilities. With strong industry support and deep engineering and aerospace expertise – including Frazer-Nash colleagues with a decade of propulsion experience – we have all the right ingredients to make this ambitious vision a reality.”
Tommaso Ghidini, Head of ESA’s Mechanical Department, adds: “Hypersonic flight is not just the next frontier of aerospace – it is the gateway to a new paradigm of mobility, defence, and space access. With INVICTUS, Europe is seizing the opportunity to lead in technologies that will redefine how we move across the planet and reach beyond it.
“By mastering reusable, air-breathing propulsion, we are laying the foundation for aircraft that take off like planes and reach orbit like rockets – revolutionising both terrestrial and orbital transportation. This is where dual-use innovation meets strategic autonomy.”
Tony Forsythe, Head of Space technology at the UK Space Agency, said: “This exciting project, made possible by our investments in the European Space Agency, has significant potential to build on advanced cooling and hypersonic propulsion technology developed by UK engineers over many years. We look forward to seeing how the work develops and the opportunity it presents for boosting economic growth and national security.”
Over the next 12 months, the INVICTUS consortium, led by Frazer-Nash and including Spirit AeroSystems and Cranfield University, will deliver the preliminary design of the full flight system.
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