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CINCINNATI — GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) said it has received a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), part of the Department of War, to advance a hypersonic test bed under the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT) program.
The award moves the company into the next stage of a liquid-fueled hypersonic test platform, following initial 2023 funding that supported concept work and team formation. In this phase, GE Aerospace will design and develop a combined booster and cruiser that together form an all-up-round (AUR) test bed for hypersonic trials.
“Acceleration in this type of hypersonic testing are critical to advancing next-generation capabilities at speed and scale,” said Steve “Doogie” Russell, Vice President and General Manager of Edison Works at GE Aerospace. “This work with DIU builds on years of investment and progress, and we are proud to help deliver a flexible, responsive test solution to support national defense priorities.”
Program activities have advanced through several milestones since 2023. After initial concept development, the company refined and evaluated subsystems in 2024, then proceeded to an all-up-round preliminary design review in 2025. The newly awarded 2026 phase centers on full AUR integration and initial qualification, along with component-level testing of key subsystems.
Edison Works, GE Aerospace’s advanced design, engineering, and technology organization, focuses on rapid prototyping, digital engineering, and innovations aimed at defense propulsion and systems.
