Munich-based defence startup Hypersonica has emerged from stealth mode with a €23.3 million Series A funding round and confirmation that it successfully test-launched a hypersonic missile prototype earlier this month.
Founded in December 2023, the company says it is developing Europe’s first privately funded hypersonic strike capability, with operations across Germany and the United Kingdom. Hypersonica aims to field a shorter-range hypersonic system by 2027, followed by fully operational hypersonic glide vehicles by 2029.
The funding round, announced on Feb. 10, was led by London-based venture firm Plural, with participation from Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, General Catalyst and 201 Ventures. The company said the capital will support continued flight testing to meet demand from NATO member states for long-range precision strike capabilities.
“Europe is at a decisive moment where speed in defence innovation is no longer optional but essential,” co-founders Dr. Philipp Kerth and Dr. Marc Ewenz said in a joint statement. “Our mission is clear: equip Europe with the technological edge it needs and wants in manoeuvrable hypersonic systems to defend against military aggression and safeguard the democratic values that bind our societies.”
Hypersonica also disclosed that it conducted its first successful test flight on Feb. 3 from Andøya Space in Norway. The test vehicle, consisting of the company’s prototype mounted on a booster supplied by an unnamed partner, exceeded Mach 6 — more than 7,400 km per hour — and traveled over 300 kilometers, the company said.
According to Hypersonica, onboard instrumentation validated system performance down to subcomponent level under hypersonic conditions. The company said the data collected will inform development of future vehicles capable of sustained high-speed manoeuvrability.
“Our test flight yielded invaluable datasets that will inform the design and development of future high-speed strike systems and enhance our ability to analyse adversary weapon profiles,” the founders said. They added that completing the mission roughly nine months after initial design demonstrated the pace at which private-sector programs can progress.
The company plans a phased test campaign with future launches intended to demonstrate sustained hypersonic flight, guidance and control at extreme speeds, and complex manoeuvres required for operational missions.
Hypersonic weapons — capable of traveling at speeds above Mach 5 while manoeuvring — have become a priority for major military powers, and European nations have accelerated investment in domestic capabilities amid shifting security concerns.
