Hypersonica secures €100M to advance its hypersonic missile technology
British-German defence technology startup developing hypersonic long-range missiles capable of travelling at more than five times the speed of sound has secured €100 million in fresh funding, the company announced today.
Hypersonica raised the capital through a Series B funding round co-led by US investment firms Lightspeed and General Catalyst, both active investors in Europe's defence technology sector. Existing backers, including Plural and 201 Ventures, also participated in the round.
The latest investment comes after Hypersonica secured €23.2 million in Series A funding in February this year. That round was led by Plural, with additional participation from General Catalyst and 201 Ventures.
Founded in 2023, Hypersonica is headquartered in Munich and operates a subsidiary in London. The company aims to develop advanced military technology more quickly and cost-effectively than traditional defence contractors. Its broader mission is to strengthen Europe's independent defence capabilities by creating a sovereign long-range strike solution and reducing the region's reliance on American technology.
The newly raised capital will support the development of its hypersonic deep-strike missile systems, accelerate testing activities and expand its operations across European markets. Hypersonica also plans to establish hundreds of engineering and manufacturing jobs in the UK and Germany as it increases its development and production capabilities.
The company is also involved in the UK-Germany defence partnership known as the Trinity House Agreement, which focuses on the joint development of advanced conventional weapons, including hypersonic missile systems with ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometres.
By developing and maintaining control over its core technologies within Europe, Hypersonica aims to contribute to the region's defence independence and strengthen its domestic industrial capabilities. The startup is targeting the development of operational hypersonic deep-strike systems by 2029, while building a wider European network for technology development, engineering and manufacturing.
Hypersonica co-founders Dr. Philipp Kerth, CEO and Dr. Marc Ewenz, CTO, said: “The debate about whether Europe needs hypersonic deep-strike capability is over.
"Governments have recognised the requirement and begun funding programmes. The challenge now is delivery. Europe needs credible hypersonic long-range capability, and more value for every pound and euro it spends. We have shown that next-generation hypersonic systems can be developed in Europe faster and more affordably than conventional wisdom suggests. And we’re proud to be backed by investors who share our conviction that Europe should be able to develop and produce advanced strategic capabilities itself.”