Hypersonica’s hypersonic missile prototype completed a successful test flight at Andoya Space in Norway, reaching speeds above Mach 6 in its first flight, the company announced on February 10, 2026. This marked a notable milestone for a privately funded defence firm in European hypersonic development.
Hypersonic Missile Flight Details
Hypersonica, an Anglo-German defence and aerospace startup, said its prototype hypersonic strike missile flew at speeds greater than six times the speed of sound and covered more than 300 kilometres during the test. All systems performed nominally throughout ascent and descent according to the company’s release.
The firm added that system performance was validated down to the subcomponent level at hypersonic speeds, producing datasets expected to support future design work.
The test was conducted at Andoya Space in northern Norway, where the range supports complex aerospace and defence testing missions thanks to extensive airspace and safety infrastructure.
European Hypersonic Development Context
Hypersonic weapons are defined by sustained flight above Mach 5 and are of growing interest globally because of their potential to evade existing missile defences. Europe’s research and development on hypersonic systems has included government and academic efforts, with France and the United Kingdom pursuing their own programs.
Europe’s investment in counters and defence systems against hypersonic threats is also expanding, with funding lines under the European Defence Fund targeting high-speed missile interception and related technologies.
Startup Approach And Next Steps
Hypersonica said the nine-month timeline from initial design to launchpad reflects its modular development approach, which the company claims can reduce cost and time compared with more traditional defence contracting models.
Co-founders Philipp Kerth and Marc Ewenz said the flight’s results provide valuable data to feed into future test campaigns and eventual operational designs.
The company is aiming to develop what it calls a sovereign European hypersonic strike capability by 2029, signalling ongoing work and further test flights ahead as part of that roadmap.
Andoya Space’s Role
Andoya Space, located on Norway’s Andøya island, operates a test range capable of handling complex aerospace missions including hypersonic weapons trials. The facility’s broad range space and defence support infrastructure has been used previously for other high-speed tests.
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