Could HERMEUS turn the hypersonic arms race on its head?
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2023
- Hermeus was established in 2018 with the lofty goal of fielding hypersonic aircraft for the commercial sector that could eventually even ferry passengers across the Pacific Ocean in as little as 90 minutes. This goal, while certainly ambitious, isn’t necessarily unique in itself - there have been lots of high-speed aircraft programs over the years.
What makes Hermeus special isn’t that they’re reaching for the stars… but rather, how firmly they’re keeping their feet planted on the ground as they do. Their pragmatic approach to hypersonic flight has caught the U.S. Air Force's attention... and if they're successful, the world will be next.
Check out Alex Hollings on the Hermeus Podcast here: • Hypersonic Fever! With...
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Further Reading:
- www.sandboxx.us/blog/hyperson...
- www.sandboxx.us/blog/hermeus-...
- www.sandboxx.us/blog/top-gun-...
Citations:
- www.hermeus.com/blog-abms
- www.aflcmc.af.mil/news/articl...
- www.enginehistory.org/Conventi...
- www.govconwire.com/2020/05/ge...
- www.hermeus.com/six-more-engines
- www.sandboxx.us/blog/is-there...
- www.leidos.com/insights/leido...
- www.hermeus.com/quarterhorse
- imlive.s3.amazonaws.com/Feder...
- www.sandboxx.us/blog/5-secret...
- interestingengineering.com/tr...
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www.hermeus.com/chimera
Reminds me of where the Bulls used to practice. It was the most nondescript building out in the suburbs. You would not know that was the Bulls facility unless you knew before looking at it
Spent many years doing business around that area…I believe very few even knew it existed back in residential/business district.
The San Diego area has many new industrial parks where the buildings are only marked with an address, or an address and a logo.
This is a big military area.
3rd largest Navy base in the world. North Island Naval Air Station, SEAL base, there's usually 2 or 3 Nimitz class carriers being upgraded at North Island.
Lots of Engineering opportunities.
My favourite type of factory.
Right from the start you sounded like you were really up for this one, Alex.
Your enthusiasm is infectious and only enhances the quality of your journalism.
A sincere thanks for your efforts.
All I can say is...fly baby fly! 46 years ago when I started working on A-4s another squadron on base flew the T-2 that was powered by 2 non afterburning J85 engines. We had the j52 engines that made the J85 look tiny as you said. Hell I have an acquaintance that runs a J85 in his dragster. They are tough and reliable. It will be interesting to see what comes of this. Thank you and be safe.
Hermeus was Generation orbit also funded by usaf, just offloaded it, formed hermeus, then will roper steered em 60 million, then after rotating out they paid him a million and a seat on the board? their larger plane is clone from my physics via boeing. smaller one is cloned from europes lapcat. They will sell the company to lockheed, boeing, etc. cash in, rinse cycle repeat. hence, ponzi scheme
That's correct ! This idea is nothing new. It's a matter of making one that's reliable, maneuverable, and accurate.
Lt Rob, United States Airforce Retired.
That would be one scary dragster!!!
We used the J-52 engines in the Gam missiles. J52-P-3 turbojet propelled the Hound Dog
Incredible content as always. I actually know a girl in my grad program who did an internship this past spring with them and loved it.
Just one little nitpick. The J58 that powered the SR-71 was *not* a turbo-ramjet. It never diverted more than about 20% of the core mass flow around the turbomachinery/combustor iirc and thus can't be a turbo-ramjet. In my opinion, it was actually a far more interesting and clever solution by the P&W engineers than just routing all of the air around the core turbomachinery.
EXCELLENT piece of work Alex. Never disappoint. High tech info delivered in an engaging format - I live in ATL and have been following Hermeus for a while. Those folks are brilliant.
Hermeus is a ponzi scam... always has been
wish hypersonic is new
@@darugdawg2453 Hermeus was Generation orbit also funded by usaf, just offloaded it, formed hermeus, then will roper steered em 60 million, then after rotating out they paid him a million and a seat on the board? their larger plane is clone from my physics via boeing. smaller one is cloned from europes lapcat. They will sell the company to lockheed, boeing, etc. cash in, rinse cycle repeat. hence, ponzi scheme
You've been following HERMEUS? 🤭 And?
@@aachoocrony5754 larger plane is a low end clone from us, after boeing's son of blackbird. which the physics was created by me. quarterhorse, is a low end attempt to copy europe's lapcat... both their plane and engine are not hypersonic capable... they will end up selling the startup like they did with generation orbit... rinse cycle repeat. but everyone involved, even will roper, who steered them 10s of millions and then paid a million rotating out, will get paid... then they will form another startup, again.
Probably the best episode you've made. I wonder what plans the USAF has for production? It's pretty clear that as currently organized, production at scale won't be possible. I hope Hermeus doesn't get "swallowed" by one of the monster A&D companies: perfect storm to squelch innovation.
As usual, Alex, you've knocked this out of the park ! Can't miss!
Please ask them to name the full scale prototype "Crazy Horse" 🙂 The people behind this remind me of Seymour Cray, of Cray Computers. Take existing technology and push it to the absolute maximum in terms of engineering, no need for technology breakthroughs that may or may not happen.
+1 for channeling Seymour Cray
Oh hell yeah. It’s gotta be Crazy Horse. Genius.
Considering what these missiles bring to their targets, pale horse would also be pretty good as well.
Fun fact: N60304 registration on the Quarterhorse used to belong to 1943 Taylorcraft (a small tail dragger aircraft used as a primary pilot trainer that flies around 60 knots max.)
Imagine, a hypersonic drone, firing conventional missiles…using AI that’s directed by a human pilot. Or a closed system AI that is programmed before launch to be less vulnerable to jamming and other counter measures.
I wish more of the firms working on hypersonic were working on aircraft. This is definitely the future, not the missiles.
A recent simulation involving a USAF AI controlled drone, the drone Identified it's target, when the operator denied the drone permission to kill the target, the drone proceeded to kill the operation and then the target. When the program was modified to prevent the drone from killing the operator, it proceeded to kill the communications tower that the operator used to give it instructions before killing what it had designated as the target.
So still want AI controlled drones?
everyone in this comment section needs to take a fucking ML class Jesus Christ
I wonder how long it has been since the CCP has infiltrated HERMEUS?
@@pogo1140 This is a non story lmao. The AI is not general intelligence ai. This is simply a coding error that will get fixed and is integral to a testing cycle.
This feels a lot like SpaceX. Using commercial techniques to ensure rapid and cheap development with iterative designs that improve consistently. Quarter Horse you can tell is a rough draft, Darkhorse is looking pretty good, and I imagine Dragonborn’s or whatever they’re gonna call the next thing will be a truly perfected and revolutionary machine.
Thinking about hardware and needs. I don't think a hypersonic bomb needs to do loops. I think about things like jdams. at it's core it is a gravity bomb. Then computer, fins and sensors. Yes I'm leaving lots of details out. But then a jdam is a gravity bomb with some ability to do course changes within a funnel like window. Now thinking about Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy. have the 2nd stage be a maneuverable glide vehicle with 1000kg of boom. Sent up to just below the Harmin Line, (thus not breaking treaties on the weaponization of space) that 2nd stage can go almost anywhere in the world first stage lands back at the launch site or a drone ship. F Heavy would allow more Delta Change or a bigger boom. Payload to LEO for F Heavy is 141,000 lbs.
When hijacked by malign actors, the results will be as catastophic as they may be intractable. The next world war could elapse in hours, rather than years.
I remember reading an AW&ST article about a back seat ride in a SR-71. The writer described flying a circle around Boise, Idaho at Mach 3. The circle had a diameter of 90 miles. At those speeds it seems maneuvers would have to be very gradual and therefore predictable.
I'm so glad I came across this channel! The amount of valuable information along with the superb way you can break it down in terms the average person can understand is astonishing and the fact you can pump out videos week after week... thank you sir!
The true genius of the J58 and I suspect the hybrid engine used by Hermeus is the control of shock wave formation inside the nacelle as it slows supersonic air down to subsonic, which compresses it manyfold, so it can be ducted in a controlled fashion to the afterburner section where fuel is added and burned.
If I’m not mistaken that genius went on to run Skunk Works after Kelly retired.
It’s all in the intake cone’s position of the J58.
The SR-71's cone moved based on airspeed to control the air entering the nacelles.
I love the idea of Hypersonic vehicle oppose to hypersonic missals . Reuse, control, and even more importantly the plan can be changed more throughly at least in b4 fully detonating
amazing piece. great work with this. watched it all the way through and even took notes. keep up the great work!
All I can say is WOW! That's impressive technology. Great report Alex.
I'm a little skeptical of Hermeus' claims, not on any technical level, but by the way they're talked about in the media. They've got a secret facility where they do classified research but also host a podcast. They hold test demonstrations with immaculate viewing areas and high quality video, but it's basically a static fire test in a mockup of the vehicle. Given cases like Theranos and Nikola where some big flashy startup exaggerates their capabilities and hopes to fundraise enough to make it real before anyone realizes, I'm going to assume it's a scam until they've got that thing flying at the speeds they claim it can manage.
It's looks like the same situation with Boom Supersonic. The XB-1 was supposed to be tested in 2018. It's now 2023 and it is still yet to fly.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a scam. But I do think they are very good at selling an idea that they hadn’t made any meaningful progress on. Now that they’ve sold that idea they have a lot of runway in the way of funding. But they’ll need to deliver. And I believe they really will try to deliver on what they’ve promised. We’ll see
I hope Australia gets their hypersonic scramjet drone flying before this because Alex won't do any investigating in to it and has even gotten facts wrong about it.
He knows of it and even tried claiming was a American project trying to but the Australian scramjet. but was the Australian company getting help from a American company to build the drone body to test the Australian scramjet until Australia can manufacture drone body because of the material needed isn't being manufactured in Australia yet.
Have you seen where they are spending their latest round of funding? LA offices.... Supper suss, there is a slowly growing concern as to how appropriate some of their spending is.
@Lobsy Pobsy In booms defense, they are trapped in burcratic hell with the FAA and FISDO.
Love your content. Thanks for the update on Hermeus, when that engine transitions from turbojet to ramjet, it gives me goosebumps.
Absolutely most informative piece I’ve seen on this subject. Thanks greatly.
It's crazy that you guys only have a quarter million subscribers. You should be 10x that, easily. Keep this quality of work up and you will be.
Alex, each episode is better than the last. Not sure if you see it yet, but you do realize you are the new Tom Brokaw or Walter Kronkite of the aviation world, don't you?
I don't suppose that title pays much, but I hope knowing that you are the very best at what you do is compensation enough for you to keep at it. From a supporter since the beginning, keep the great work coming my man.
Please do not insult Alex by saying he is “The new Tom Brokaw or Walter Cronkite.” Alex is honest!
@@davidlium9338 : LMAO; HA HA HAA HA HA!!!!
hold on...
HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!
@@davidlium9338 Lol. Roger that. It wasn't meant as an insult tho.
Subscribed to many YT channels but this is my favourite. Always watch to the end and love the level the show is pitched at. Well done you three and hope you have a good summer. Take care, Andrew
I said it before; now I want to say again--Alex you and your team are the BEST! Congratulations on your recent award. Well-deserved.
Great job on this Alex, I love when you make new episodes. I noticed one issue however. You mentioned hypersonic speeds and the ability to get there. Missiles maneuvering to make the strike makes (expensive) sense, but a strike aircraft (because that's essentially the idea here) deploying munitions at hypersonic speeds without destroying the host aircraft, I think would be an even more impressive feat than just propelling a platform to those speeds. Otherwise the aircraft will have to slow down to standard release speeds in order to deploy munitions, making them vulnerable to standard air defense systems currently in use. In your opinion, is release while in maintained hypersonic flight even possible with current or near-term tech development?
One idea would be to launch them out of the rear of the aircraft in order to avoid the slipstream until it’s well to the rear. There might also be some sort of detachable weapons-carrying module, similar to the B-58.
Nothing so far as been said about airframe integrity at speeds over the SR-71. That was a major concern. Also, how is communication going to work through the plasma envelope around the aircraft?
Thanks Alex for an outstanding channel !
Semper Fi from a 'Nam Squid.
#charlesmiller1446 RE: the plasma/RF communications issue. There are a few ways around the plasma problem, each with it's own complications. For a simple read/high-level discussion on the topic, search for technologyreview, January 5, 2011, and 'Solve Radio Black-out'. You will get a link to an MIT article about a Russian proposed technique (modulating the plasma field) as well as other, pre-existing paths (e.g. designing the external shape for a 'gap' in the plasma; using LF-range frequencies which are not as affected by the plasma [plasma will have a roughly 'resonant' freq-range that it will block best]) .
But yeah, plasma is a problem.
I used to do a bit of RFI/EMI design, PCB transmission line and waveguide calcs, and also some extreme LF work (bio-med at 2-9.5 Hz. I can kind of see where these guys are going, and there are a wide range of possible answers.
Not for me any more. I went back to school and got a DMD... I shuck teeth and fills holes now.
Starship with the third test flight was able to maintain communications and telemetry for a while thanks to Starlink and the large wake such a huge rocket was able to produce. So maybe some rear mounted Starlink terminals or something similar could provide some communications.
Perfect reporting - thanks Alex!
BRO! Your videos are always kickass! Keep up the great work
USA leading in hypersonic technologies now - TBCC, Dual-mode scramjet for missiles, miniaturized gliders, currently China and Russia does not have these hypersonic technologies. China and Russia developing primitive hypersonic weapon.
Sure 😂😂😂
@@Joe29393 haiti strong all others weak
I hope Hermeus succeeds, if only just to vindicate what sounds like a very sound, fast-but-still-innovative approach to progress. Thanks for this excellent piece!
"...tends to be in missiles, where you can make good use of that crash..."
And the Well Turned Phrase award goes to... Sandboxx!
Just wanted to say thank you for all the effort you put into these videos! Excellent content as always Alex 👍🏼
Could you maybe do a video on how AGI and systems like ChatGPT will impact military involvements?
To be clear we don’t have AGI yet. LLMs like ChatGPT are not AGI. And they won’t be until they can reliably solve math and physics problems, particularly ones humans haven’t solved yet, but they’re not there yet. But there’s a ton of research going into that. Two of the more recent strategies are “trees of thought” and “process supervision”. If you google that you can read more about it. But it’s still an unsolved problem.
Looks and sounds good for our future war advantages!!!💖😉👊👍
Another excellent presentation, Alex!
Another great video Alex! Awesome info. 👍
asking again for the 100th time, please cover the TR-3b. thanks, great video as always
Isn't that kind of... not supposed to be real or at least be a front of false info to cover other real program work?
Let's just build Darkstar and be done with it! 😄
I’m sure it has been flying for years. If the military is talking about building the 6th gen, you can certainly believe they are in the design pass on 7th gen and theoretical stage on the 8th gen.
Darkstar has been flying for a few years now. I'd bet my last penny on it.
@@dextermorgan1 for sure, those decades of ufo sightings that look like “dark triangles” tell me we’ve had this tech for a while now. If they are letting us see it, it’s because it’s already outdated
@@ronray4294 yeah more like 20th gen lol
Can you even explain what 7th gen would be?
Thrilling stuff. Thanks for the deep dive.
as always.......amazing info, thank you Alex!!
I am really skeptical of Chinas Hypersonic capabilities! They are no different than Russia. Talk the Talk and walk the walk are very different!
Same as i think. If hylersonic missile scientists in Russia are prison for betrayal of givinthier tech to china what do you think chinese has other than Russian which we found they're not having a precision😂😂
China has made huge strides in military tech. They have money Russia doesn't. And are quite good at stealing and reverse engineering.
Given that the Saudi's purchase of the df-21s helped the CIA get a very good look, I think it's safe to assume a certain threat level. Besides, you only need to be close with a nuke. And yeah, they can all carry those.
I fail to see how you c@n say that. Russia has working hypersonic missiles which it has used in Ukraine. The USA has how many? Let me think ….oh it stopped testing a little while ago. The USA in my view is going up a blind alley. Why do you need a hypersonic drone to carry missiles when you can just send the missile? Russia is actually well ahead of the USA . It seems like the U.S.A lost the arms race to me.
@@peterlangan1181 what's the content doe this guy has???. Did you have a break fast ?
Deploying munitions at hypersonic speeds sounds like a bit of a challenge.
The sudden change to the drag/airflow characteristics will be challenging to both vehicles.
Also, presumably these will be externally mounted (opening bays at that speed would be tricky). But externally mounted munitions might be a challenge for drag and for low observability.
Or,... maybe I'm talking out my arse. Well TBH, I am so,.. maybe my arsetalk is complete bollocks.
What's your ride height on your car imagine high-altitude or stratosphere launch No Air no humidity no wind hey we're doing Mach 6 we just launched a missile that does Mach 2 hits ground at about Mach 25 he he he he
@@stevensutton2252 Not sure there's "no air" the very fact that it gets extremely toasty means it's interacting with something. THIN air + extreme speed = problems. "Hypersonic" here being defined as where the speed affects the air chemistry, implies its defined for operating "in air" and interacting with it.
So, I could easily be wrong, but I don't think releasing a munition into that hypersonic airstream is trivial, and that act of releasing a munition is central to this being a viable, multi-use, weapons platform (unlike a hypersonic missile)
Previously, US pilots have ejected and survived at high supersonic speeds, they'll definitely figure it out..
Considering the velocity of the aircraft and munition would be relatively similar at launch, the biggest issue would be drag but if deployment is fast enough and the munition is engineered for hypersonic deployment it shouldn't be a problem at all
Throw the bomb out the back
@@Laminar-Flow Agree, objects inside are traveling at the same speed as the vehicle that carries it, it should be fine if inside object ignition occurs prior to fully exiting the vehicle air envelope
One of your best episodes. Love it.
Outstanding presentation, Alex ! Keep it up.
Damn nice engine concept. I would like to see these used in a new version of the Space Shuttle. One that can take off and land. I hope they get Dark horse flying.
A space shuttle... with air-breathing engines? I think you can see the issue here.
And it would need to be several *times* faster. This is why we use rockets.
@@uku4171 In this configuration the rocket motors would be much smaller. Solid rocket maybe. Enough to go from the stratosphere to LEO.
@@jerrywatson1958 with a payload of just around none, this wouldn't be much of a shuttle. SSTOs are pointless.
@@uku4171 Can you prove that?
Nobody who paints a container black has ever been in one on a hot day. I smell "fake it till you make it or bail out with your golden parachute".
Having been stationed in the Mojave myself, I asked about A/C! The box has a sizable unit installed - it’s important for the equipment as well as the people.
-AH
Hermeus came for recruiting at our campus a few weeks ago. Lots of insight gained into what they are doing.
that's concerning
@@lsuperior why?
Excellent, EXCELLENT video! Well done.
Nice reporting. I'm a huge fan of the P&W F100 PW229. Good, solid engine with a decent thrust:weight ratio.
Great stuff, Alex. Thank you. 😎
Another concise and well researched video, my friend. Greatly appreciated.
👍🏻🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸👍🏻
Wow, great content. Very informative and well presented!
Another excellent episode Alex !
Dam Alex. You know what you are doing.
Thank you for the excellent report!
Good stuff Alex. TY
I love your videos!! I am retired active duty USAF and it amazes me how technology has changed in Air Power since I retired 23 years ago. Thank you for all you do!!
Having a tight budget focuses the mind of engineers. They can do amazing things when they are forced to. Mach 6 is just fine. Reliability is so much more important.
Reusability is the best cost saver there is. Use the high speed drone to penetrate the defenses and launch already fielded missiles at close range. Brilliant.
America has always shot ourselves in the foot when we go to the bleeding edge of technology.
The content and writing in this is LOL awesome! Educational, entertaining, and inspiring all at same time!
I love your intro music! Its grown so much, and makes me feel pretty hype for what the video will be.
YOUR AMAZING 👍👍 another great video 💯
Alex,
With your clear cut and concise explanations coupled with your unbounding enthusiasm I’m able to easily grasp what you’re saying!!!
Then I saw you explaining the engine to your daughter and thought “Aha” of course!!!
Thank you for making a mere enthusiast easily understand these concepts!!!
Alex! You are awesome!
This is a quality Channel, and I trust its contents because of its association with so many reputable people and a rich history of verifiable reports. I am therefore highly encouraged by this report.
I have been watching your channel for a while now and been too lazy to make a comment but at this point i have to say thanks for the great insights delivered with enthusiasm and passion, Ok this has restored the balance of my world as much a comment can be expected too. Again thanks
Saw those fancy painted containers in the prospectus & had to invest.😁 Just making fun. Containers are an amazingly flexible structure. Shows resourcefulness.
Thanks Alex for all of your hard work and research by you and your team......
Shoe🇺🇸
Great content. Thanks
Thanks, Sandboxx News.
Bravo one of your best videos ever.
Great research and analysis Alex!!! Thanks!
So, hypersonic weapon is not about who started but about who finishes it!!! Well said Alex!
👍🚀🛸🛰️🗽🇺🇸
As always, mate, you never fail to deliver. But that is really the solution for all these hypersonic issues a plane or defensive system against it.
WOW what an eye opener ESPECIALLY @17:54 ...and that's not the biggest baddest turbofan in inventory 😳😲🤯🤓 thank you again and well done 🙏👏👏👏
I wish there was a video game around development and deployment of jet/rocket/drone technology. I find this defense industry stuff wildly fascinating. Another banger Alex, thank you.
Nerd🤓
Try kerbal space program
This channel is awesome!
Keep on keeping on brother! ❤🇺🇲
Awesome video!
I wish Hermeus the very best of luck with their projects!
They seem to be a very sensible and down-to-earth company, getting the absolute *maximum* out of technology!
That reminds me - I wonder what became of the SABRE engine that was being developed in the UK?
It sounded really amazing - the company was headed by a former Rolls-Royce employee.
I'm hoping that hasn't just been abandoned.
I like that they are working on the next step rather than relying on the next Great Leap. Getting scramjet technology to work is important, but it's now obvious that you can't schedule it. Their focus is more near-term and practical.
I hope they cross-license with GE so that GE can help with production and commercialization of the engine technology.
Do you remember the early evolution of the Jet Engine, you know when they had ICE engines to provide the airflow for the jets, which were probably precursors to the RAM Jet? Hermeus and this presentation reminded me of that! Good presentation!
BRAVO! This was a good one. Good old American backyard tech.
Love your work! Job Well Done! Thank You! Oohraah!!! 🇺🇸🤠🇺🇸
I love the intro on each episode!
Not only the advanced propulsion but and airframe able to withstand the G of maneuvering as well as guidance systems strong enough to continue functioning under the same stresses!
that was a great interview with their COO last year btw
Everything moves on and expensive comes cheap or obsolete. Eniveis. Great indepth video with in-location-shot-footage :P If I can say one thing.. This needs maybe more time and effort in editing but I'd like to see some simple examples with these huge prices.. I can't wrap my mind around them easily but if you somehow show them as visual examples. The highest number is one long bar and everything you compare to it is shown as increments in the bar. Or something similar. That would bring a new layer of something we number-limited-people could get a grasp on. I bet, Im not the only one. Otherwise, great content - Airpower or Firepower or any military power you throw at us we are humbled to get to watch! :)
Greetings from Finland!
Daughters are the greatest. Great video
Yes, your research is top notch, but your prose and structure... Pretty much perfect. You have a great team.
Very lightly touched on the idea of heat. From my sources SR71 had bigger issues with heat.
All of their designs are absolutely beautiful!
As with boats, if it looks good, it will go well.
This is a concept I have never heard of or thought even possible, a re-usable bomb!
Hmmmm... gets one to thinking ... thanks !!
I probably understood 40% of everything you said and still an awesome video!
Excellent.
Amazing video!!! I’ve been following Hermeus for a while and am interested in working there after I graduate. Keep up the great content! 🇺🇸
I know there isn’t a ton of information on it but I would love to see a video on the use of Starship 🚀 as a troop and weapons cache deployment system and how that could work in a war zone such as Taiwan..
As someone who works on turbojet engines, this topic gets me really excited
What a name for a company!
Congratulations excellent
I think their propulsion system could have application to developing a version of the Black Horse SSTO concept with lots military and commercial applications. You might want to look at the Black Horse concept for a video.
good shit as usual
This is also very important because we can't keep relying on the same big three defense contractors for all our defense needs.
Love the new music. GL on Paris.
Awesome, we differential need more competition in our defense industry!