A new aerospace program is aiming to put the UK and Europe at the forefront of hypersonic flights. Ahead of the UK Space Conference in July, Frazer-Nash announced its leadership of INVICTUS — a €7 million European Space Agency-funded initiative to design a — wait for it — Mach 5-capable, reusable aircraft that can take off horizontally like a conventional jet. The ambitious goal? Build and fly this next-generation vehicle by 2031. INVICTUS isn’t just about speed. It’s about revolutionizing how we access space.
The concept relies on hydrogen-fueled, precooled air-breathing propulsion, a cutting-edge technology that cools air before it reaches the engine, enabling hypersonic flight while bypassing the limits of conventional jet engines.
Here’s how it works: at Mach 5 — five times the speed of sound — air becomes dangerously hot. Most engines can’t handle it. But the pre-cooler, originally developed by Reaction Engines Ltd (REL), solves this. It chills incoming air so that standard engine components can operate at hypersonic speeds. REL’s technology has already been validated in prior tests, and now Frazer-Nash has brought their team on board to accelerate progress.
The INVICTUS team includes heavyweights like Spirit AeroSystems, Cranfield University, and a group of specialized SMEs. Together, they’re tasked with delivering a comprehensive concept and preliminary design for the aircraft within the next 12 months.
“By mastering reusable, air-breathing propulsion, we are laying the foundation for aircraft that take off like planes and reach orbit like rockets,” said Dr Tommaso Ghidini of the European Space Agency. “This is where dual-use innovation meets strategic autonomy.”
Why does it matter? Because it opens the door to fast, efficient space launches from runways — without rockets or vertical lift-off systems. This could drastically reduce launch costs and enable more frequent missions for satellites, research, and even space tourism.
But it doesn’t stop there. INVICTUS is a dual-use technology, expected to benefit both defense and commercial sectors through breakthroughs in propulsion, materials, and AI. It offers a pathway to strategic autonomy in space access while also advancing hypersonic transport on Earth.
“INVICTUS is an exciting opportunity to provide advanced technology for space and advance capabilities in defence,” said Sarah Wilkes, Managing Director at Frazer-Nash.
