Aircraft startup Hermeus has selected defense technology firm Anduril to provide autonomy software for its Mk 2 Quarterhorse high-speed drone, with flight testing scheduled to kick off next year.
The Quarterhorse is being developed with funding from the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, targeting operational speeds up to Mach 3. While previous flight tests have relied on remote control, Hermeus CEO Zach Shore noted that the company requires automation for basic features such as automated takeoffs and ground controls to allow a single operator to manage multiple platforms.
Under the partnership, Anduril will supply its Lattice mission autonomy suite, delivering an end-to-end operational solution ranging from flight software to ground control systems. Brett Darcey, Anduril’s vice president for mission autonomy in air dominance and strike, stated that the arrangement expands the addressable market for their technology, testing the performance of the software on a large, high-speed platform. This was reported in a statement by Hermeus.
While financial terms of the contract were not disclosed, executives confirmed that funds have been exchanged as part of a formal teaming arrangement. Shore added that the partnership aligns with ongoing government work to integrate autonomous solutions using a government reference architecture, though ultimate integration choices remain subject to customer requirements if the platform is acquired as a weapon system.
