Led in partnership with the British company Frazer-Nash, the Invictus program marks a decisive step in the race for ultra-fast flight technologies. It is funded by GSTP (General Support Technology Program) and TDE (ESA ESA) programs. Through this new project, consortium will work on the development ofA fully reusable test platform. The objective is to allow successive test campaigns, with the possibility of modifying materials, software and propulsion systems between each flight.
A preliminary design for soon
This modularity of the new hypersonic platform will offer European engineers a certain flexibility, which should give them the possibility ofrefine their technologies in real conditions. Note that in addition to the entities mentioned above, the consortium also brings together the American Spirit Aerosystems and the University of Cranfield, England. The team plans to present the preliminary design of the flight system within a year. Ultimately, the effort should give birth to a hypersonic space plane capable of spinning at Mach 5, or about 6,200 km/h. One of the main challenges with hypersonic flights is thermal management. At such speeds, the external walls of machines reach extremely high temperatures due to friction with the molecules of the atmosphere. Ditto for the air that enters the engines.
A revolutionary engine
To overcome this inherent constraint with very high speed flights, Invictus relies on revolutionary propulsion. The consortium works on a pre-referred hybrid rocket engine powered by hydrogen. This system is based on a technology developed by the British company Reaction Engines LTD as part of the saber program. The technology in question involves the implementation of a thermal interchange Capable of cooling hot air in a few milliseconds. It is clear that with such an innovation, Invictus seeks to make access to the space more flexible and more durable. By allowing horizontal takeoff, the vehicle could replace traditional launchers, often expensive and non -reusable.
“A new mobility paradigm”
The potential apps of the device are not limited to space. Hypersonic flight could Revolutionizing air transport at low altitude By considerably reducing journey times. The defense sector could also benefit from this advance. As emphasizes Tommaso Ghidinihead of the ESA mechanical department: “Hypersonic flight is not only the next border of the aerospace, it is the portal to a new paradigm of mobility, defense and access to space. »»
🚀Meet INVICTUS – Europe’s new hypersonic test platform.
We have joined forces with UK-based Frazer-Nash to kick off INVICTUS, a research programme with the goal of developing hypersonic technologies applicable to future reusable vehicles capable of horizontal launch.
Learn… pic.twitter.com/hFj7Ezf54I
— European Space Agency (@esa) July 16, 2025
Of course, the Invictus project also constitutes for the old continent an answer to the development programs of hypersonic machines carried by countries like China and Russia. More info: ESA.INT. The race for hypersonic machines is beautiful and well launched between all the continents, which will be the first to achieve this objective? I invite you to give us your opinion, your remarks or put an error in the text, click here to publish a comment.