Future Hellbound hypersonic drone could strengthen US strike capabilities against China and Russia
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On February 12, 2025, the companies Cummings Aerospace and ATRX, both based in Huntsville, Alabama, partnered to develop an unmanned hypersonic drone. The drone will be a new variant of the Hellhound subsonic weapons system, which Cummings Aerospace is currently developing for the US Army. The collaboration focuses on integrating ATRX’s Air Turbo Rocket (ATR) propulsion system into a proven airframe, enhancing the Hellhound’s performance to achieve supersonic and hypersonic speeds.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
According to ATRX, the ATR engine provides approximately 40% more thrust than an afterburning turbojet of the same size. It is intended for scenarios requiring short bursts of thrust, such as rapid take-offs, fast climbs, and high acceleration. (Picture source: ATRX)
Cummings Aerospace specializes in producing missiles, radars, and command and control systems, and will utilize its Hellhound family of drones for this initiative. The Hellhound series includes multiple specialized variants, notably the Hellhound S3, developed for the US Army’s Loitering Munition program, which has recently completed flight tests. ATRX, a startup in aerospace propulsion technology, brings its ATR propulsion system to the project. The ATR, also known as a Multi-Mode Combined Cycle Propulsion Engine or Overjet, utilizes a rocket-type gas generator to power and overdrive the turbojet, featuring an air-breathing design that has undergone several prototype tests.
The companies aim to incorporate the ATR engine into a Hellhound variant specifically designed for high-speed flight. The drone will use a modular 3D-printed design and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware to manage costs and enable quick payload swaps in less than five minutes without tools. According to ATRX, the ATR engine provides approximately 40% more thrust than an afterburning turbojet of the same size. It is intended for scenarios requiring short bursts of thrust, such as rapid take-offs, fast climbs, and high acceleration, with potential uses in space launch systems and missiles.
ATRX CEO Felix Bustos III stated that the partnership would streamline ATR engine flight testing, leveraging a custom unmanned aerial system (UAS) based on a flight-proven airframe to support ATRX’s Hummingbird spaceplane development, intended to assist with launching over 50,000 commercial satellites into orbit in the coming years.
Cummings Aerospace CEO Sheila Cummings noted that the partnership aims to meet the requirements of modern battlefields, which demand systems capable of greater speed and extended reach into contested airspace. The companies plan to conduct the first vertically launched test of the hypersonic drone within 18 to 24 months. The test will involve a Hellhound UAS that is up to 12 times larger than the loitering munition variant expected to compete in the US Army’s Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) competition later this year. Future development cycles are scheduled every 18-24 months, incorporating increased complexity.
The Hellhound drones include multiple specialized variants, notably the Hellhound S3, developed for the US Army’s Loitering Munition program, which has recently completed flight tests. (Picture source: Cummings Aerospace)
If the collaboration proceeds as planned, ATRX and Cummings Aerospace could become prominent suppliers of low-cost hypersonic drones to global military markets, as the development of hypersonic drones, including cost-effective models, has the potential to enhance the United States’ capabilities against adversaries such as China and Russia. These drones, capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5, a milestone not yet reached by any US military branch, can engage time-sensitive and high-value targets, including mobile missile launchers and advanced air defense systems integral to China’s and Russia’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies.
Their high velocity and maneuverability make interception by existing defense systems challenging, thereby increasing the likelihood of mission success. Additionally, deploying these drones from various platforms, such as aircraft, ships, and submarines, provides the U.S. military (and its allies) with flexible options for power projection in contested regions. Integrating low-cost hypersonic drones into the U.S. arsenal ensures that a sufficient quantity of these advanced weapons can be produced and deployed without imposing excessive financial burdens, maintaining a robust deterrent posture. Their rapid response time and extended operational range enhance the U.S. military’s ability to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions, providing real-time intelligence and early warning of potential attacks.
Therefore, the United States is pursuing hypersonic drone development through multiple projects, including the Hellhound UAS by Cummings Aerospace and ATRX, as well as Hermeus Corporation’s Quarterhorse series. The Hellhound UAS aims to combine ATRX’s Air Turbo Rocket with a modular 3D-printed design to achieve supersonic and hypersonic speeds. Separately, Hermeus Corporation is testing its Quarterhorse Mk 1 prototype, which is projected to reach Mach 4 and lay the groundwork for the Darkhorse drone, potentially matching Lockheed Martin’s SR-72 capabilities.
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On February 12, 2025, the companies Cummings Aerospace and ATRX, both based in Huntsville, Alabama, partnered to develop an unmanned hypersonic drone. The drone will be a new variant of the Hellhound subsonic weapons system, which Cummings Aerospace is currently developing for the US Army. The collaboration focuses on integrating ATRX’s Air Turbo Rocket (ATR) propulsion system into a proven airframe, enhancing the Hellhound’s performance to achieve supersonic and hypersonic speeds.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
According to ATRX, the ATR engine provides approximately 40% more thrust than an afterburning turbojet of the same size. It is intended for scenarios requiring short bursts of thrust, such as rapid take-offs, fast climbs, and high acceleration. (Picture source: ATRX)
Cummings Aerospace specializes in producing missiles, radars, and command and control systems, and will utilize its Hellhound family of drones for this initiative. The Hellhound series includes multiple specialized variants, notably the Hellhound S3, developed for the US Army’s Loitering Munition program, which has recently completed flight tests. ATRX, a startup in aerospace propulsion technology, brings its ATR propulsion system to the project. The ATR, also known as a Multi-Mode Combined Cycle Propulsion Engine or Overjet, utilizes a rocket-type gas generator to power and overdrive the turbojet, featuring an air-breathing design that has undergone several prototype tests.
The companies aim to incorporate the ATR engine into a Hellhound variant specifically designed for high-speed flight. The drone will use a modular 3D-printed design and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware to manage costs and enable quick payload swaps in less than five minutes without tools. According to ATRX, the ATR engine provides approximately 40% more thrust than an afterburning turbojet of the same size. It is intended for scenarios requiring short bursts of thrust, such as rapid take-offs, fast climbs, and high acceleration, with potential uses in space launch systems and missiles.
ATRX CEO Felix Bustos III stated that the partnership would streamline ATR engine flight testing, leveraging a custom unmanned aerial system (UAS) based on a flight-proven airframe to support ATRX’s Hummingbird spaceplane development, intended to assist with launching over 50,000 commercial satellites into orbit in the coming years.
Cummings Aerospace CEO Sheila Cummings noted that the partnership aims to meet the requirements of modern battlefields, which demand systems capable of greater speed and extended reach into contested airspace. The companies plan to conduct the first vertically launched test of the hypersonic drone within 18 to 24 months. The test will involve a Hellhound UAS that is up to 12 times larger than the loitering munition variant expected to compete in the US Army’s Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) competition later this year. Future development cycles are scheduled every 18-24 months, incorporating increased complexity.
The Hellhound drones include multiple specialized variants, notably the Hellhound S3, developed for the US Army’s Loitering Munition program, which has recently completed flight tests. (Picture source: Cummings Aerospace)
If the collaboration proceeds as planned, ATRX and Cummings Aerospace could become prominent suppliers of low-cost hypersonic drones to global military markets, as the development of hypersonic drones, including cost-effective models, has the potential to enhance the United States’ capabilities against adversaries such as China and Russia. These drones, capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5, a milestone not yet reached by any US military branch, can engage time-sensitive and high-value targets, including mobile missile launchers and advanced air defense systems integral to China’s and Russia’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies.
Their high velocity and maneuverability make interception by existing defense systems challenging, thereby increasing the likelihood of mission success. Additionally, deploying these drones from various platforms, such as aircraft, ships, and submarines, provides the U.S. military (and its allies) with flexible options for power projection in contested regions. Integrating low-cost hypersonic drones into the U.S. arsenal ensures that a sufficient quantity of these advanced weapons can be produced and deployed without imposing excessive financial burdens, maintaining a robust deterrent posture. Their rapid response time and extended operational range enhance the U.S. military’s ability to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions, providing real-time intelligence and early warning of potential attacks.
Therefore, the United States is pursuing hypersonic drone development through multiple projects, including the Hellhound UAS by Cummings Aerospace and ATRX, as well as Hermeus Corporation’s Quarterhorse series. The Hellhound UAS aims to combine ATRX’s Air Turbo Rocket with a modular 3D-printed design to achieve supersonic and hypersonic speeds. Separately, Hermeus Corporation is testing its Quarterhorse Mk 1 prototype, which is projected to reach Mach 4 and lay the groundwork for the Darkhorse drone, potentially matching Lockheed Martin’s SR-72 capabilities.
