Hermeus' Quarterhorse 2.1 unmanned aircraft on a runway at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Hermeus photo, May 2026.

Hermeus on Thursday said it has received a $159 million contract modification from the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to demonstrate high-Mach flight and high-speed payload carry and release to aid the development of future military capabilities. DIU in November 2023 awarded Hermeus a contract to mature its hypersonic aircraft technologies with a goal of flight testing its prototype Quarterhorse unmanned aircraft. The contract modification brings to $219 million the value of Hermeus’ work with DIU. Hermeus in May 2025…