A UK-led consortium has announced the development of INVICTUS, a reusable spaceplane capable of reaching Mach 5, with its maiden flight scheduled for 2031.
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The project, funded with $8.12 million by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to enable horizontal space launches using hydrogen hypersonic propulsion with pre-cooling technology — a system that cools the air before it enters the engine, allowing speeds far beyond what conventional jets can handle.
INVICTUS brings together major companies and institutions such as Frazer-Nash, Spirit AeroSystems, and Cranfield University. The team includes former specialists from Reaction Engines Ltd (REL), a company that developed crucial technologies for this type of propulsion but ceased operations in 2024. The technology developed by REL, including the SABRE engine and the innovative pre-cooler system, was considered essential for the advancement of reusable hypersonic vehicles in the UK.
According to ESA, hypersonic flight could transform both terrestrial transportation and space access, allowing aircraft to take off like planes and reach orbit like rockets.
UK authorities highlight the project’s potential not only to drive technological innovation but also to foster economic growth and strengthen national security.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @esa | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
🚀Meet INVICTUS – Europe’s new hypersonic test platform.
We have joined forces with UK-based Frazer-Nash to kick off INVICTUS, a research programme with the goal of developing hypersonic technologies applicable to future reusable vehicles capable of horizontal launch.
Learn… pic.twitter.com/hFj7Ezf54I
— European Space Agency (@esa) July 16, 2025
