DART AE Hypersonic Vehicle Successfully Tested
Australian aerospace company Hypersonix Launch Systems has announced the successful test flight of its DART AE hypersonic vehicle, the world’s first such craft produced entirely using 3D printing and high-temperature alloys.
During the mission, codenamed Cassowary Vex, the vehicle reached Mach 8—approximately 9,800 km/h—marking a major milestone in hypersonic technology.
Powered by the SPARTAN Ramjet
The DART AE is equipped with an innovative ramjet engine called SPARTAN.
Key highlights:
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Uses hydrogen as fuel
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Improves propulsion efficiency at extreme speeds
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Produces only water as a combustion byproduct
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Offers a more environmentally friendly hypersonic solution
The hydrogen-based system is designed to deliver both high performance and reduced environmental impact.
How the Test Flight Unfolded
The launch took place at 7:00 PM local time from NASA Wallops Flight Facility.
Mission sequence:
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Rocket Lab’s HASTE launch vehicle carried the 300-kg DART AE into a suborbital trajectory.
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The booster accelerated the vehicle to Mach 5.
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At an altitude of about 26 km, the hypersonic engine ignited.
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The vehicle accelerated further to its target Mach 8 speed.
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After completing the test profile, it performed a planned splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.
Objective of the Test
The trials were conducted under the supervision of the United States Department of Defense Defense Innovation arm.
Primary goals included:
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Validating 3D-printed structural integrity
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Testing autonomous guidance systems
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Assessing performance under extreme heat and aerodynamic stress
Why This Matters
The successful flight of DART AE demonstrates the growing maturity of additive manufacturing in hypersonic systems. Fully 3D-printed vehicles could significantly reduce development time and costs while enabling rapid iteration of high-speed aerospace platforms.