British aerospace firm Reaction Engines, known for its hypersonic propulsion and cooling technologies, has ceased operations after failing to secure a financial lifeline.
The collapse has significant implications for the UK’s Hypersonic Air Vehicle Experimental (HVX) program, where Reaction Engines played a central role in developing reusable, high-speed vehicles.
The company was integral to the £1 billion Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework (HTCDF), aimed at delivering the UK’s first hypersonic missile. Their work on the Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) and advanced cooling technologies was critical to this objective.
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Following protracted negotiations for financial support, including an unsuccessful bid for £20 million from the UAE’s Strategic Development Fund, Reaction Engines entered administration, with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) now handling proceedings. Analysts are concerned that Reaction Engines’ exit could hinder the UK’s hypersonic ambitions, given the niche expertise required in this field.
Only in August, Reaction Engines had reported a significant milestone: it integrated its proprietary precooler technology with existing jet-engine components during ground-based testing.
This setup achieved sustained Mach 3.5 conditions, simulating the performance required for hypersonic air vehicles and matching the top airspeed of the legendary SR-71 aircraft. The trial, which incorporated a modified Rolls-Royce jet engine, successfully reached speeds exceeding Concorde’s limits and underscored the company’s progress towards reusable, high-speed flight.
Reaction Engines was also developing intake technologies and preparing for further ground-based tests at high-Mach conditions, coupled with wind-tunnel experiments to gauge intake performance in various supersonic scenarios. “This milestone is a testament to our efforts to create innovative, reusable propulsion systems for hypersonic air vehicles,” said CEO Mark Thomas at the time, noting the broader applications of their heat-exchanger technology across different mission profiles.