GE Aerospace to build Mach 5 Derecho

GE Aerospace has received a contract from the US Defense Innovation Unit to develop an air-launched hypersonic test vehicle named Derecho. The vehicle is designed to reach speeds of Mach 5.

The contract, awarded under the Pentagon's Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities program, will fund the full integration of the vehicle and initial qualification tests for key subsystems. GE Aerospace did not disclose the financial value of the award.

Company executive Steve "Doogie" Russell stated that acceleration in hypersonic testing is critical for advancing next-generation capabilities. "This work with DIU builds on years of investment and progress," Russell said in the company's statement.

Vehicle and propulsion design

Derecho will be a liquid-fueled vehicle combining a rocket booster with a cruiser stage. The cruiser will be powered by GE Aerospace's dual-mode ramjet engine technology.

A dual-mode ramjet can function as both a conventional ramjet and a scramjet. This allows operation across a wide range of supersonic and hypersonic speeds. The engine uses atmospheric oxygen for combustion, which could enable a vehicle to carry more fuel or payload compared to systems requiring an onboard oxidizer.

Development timeline and goals

The company is targeting the first flight of the Derecho test vehicle for 2028. This flight would mark GE Aerospace's first opportunity to demonstrate its liquid-fueled dual-mode ramjet technology in the air.

GE Aerospace began work on the HyCAT project in 2023 through Innoveering, a company it acquired the previous year. The Defense Innovation Unit had initially selected Innoveering to develop an affordable, air-launched hypersonic test bed.

Subsystem refinement and evaluation occurred in 2024. A preliminary design review for the complete vehicle was conducted in 2025.

Related technology and testing

The initial configuration of the Derecho vehicle will not include a rotating detonation combustion system. GE Aerospace has been developing this technology for future hypersonic engines and notes it could be added to later versions of the test platform.

The company's recent related testing includes flight tests of a solid-fuel ramjet in September 2025. Those tests used an F-104 aircraft operated by Starfighters Aerospace and were part of a separate Pentagon program.

In January 2026, GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin completed ground tests of a liquid-fueled rotating detonation ramjet. The companies claimed the technology could allow future hypersonic missiles to fly farther while carrying extra fuel or payload.

Program objectives

The broader HyCAT program aims to increase the frequency of hypersonic flight testing while reducing its cost. It is designed to support the development of test vehicles that can carry experimental propulsion systems, sensors, communications gear, and guidance technologies at hypersonic speeds.