POLARIS Spaceplanes is designing a reusable hypersonic vehicle for the Bundeswehr, enhancing defense capabilities and flexible access to space.
German company POLARIS Spaceplanes has been awarded a contract by the BAAINBw to design a two-stage reusable hypersonic research vehicle. The project aims to provide an experimental platform for defense applications and scientific research, with the ability to launch small satellites into orbit. By developing a reusable hypersonic system, POLARIS aims to offer a flexible, cost-effective solution for testing high-speed flight technologies, thermal protection systems and advanced propulsion mechanisms. This project is set to strengthen Germany’s defense research efforts, while opening up new prospects for access to space and high-speed flight applications.
POLARIS Spaceplanes and the BAAINBw contract
On February 27, 2025, POLARIS Spaceplanes, a German company specializing in spaceplanes, announced that it had been awarded a contract by the BAAINBw (Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr) to design a two-stage reusable hypersonic research vehicle. The contract also includes options for the manufacture and flight testing of the full-scale vehicle.
Founded in 2019, POLARIS Spaceplanes is developing the AURORA, a multi-purpose spaceplane and hypersonic transport system. Before working directly on the AURORA, the company focused on developing and testing larger and larger demonstrators, the most recent being two identical five-meter-long vehicles, MIRA II and MIRA III.
The reusable hypersonic vehicle: characteristics and objectives
The two-stage system currently being designed by POLARIS will be able to take off and land horizontally, offering enhanced operational flexibility. The vehicle will serve as a hypersonic test bed and experimental platform for defense applications, as well as for scientific and institutional research. In addition, the vehicle can be used as a small satellite launch system when fitted with a consumable upper stage.
One of the main aims of this project is to provide a cost-effective, flexible solution for testing high-speed flight technologies, thermal protection systems and advanced propulsion mechanisms. By developing a reusable hypersonic system, POLARIS aims to reduce the costs associated with hypersonic testing and missions, while increasing the frequency and availability of these missions.
Potential applications of the hypersonic vehicle
The potential applications of this reusable hypersonic vehicle are manifold, covering both defense and scientific research.
Military applications
In the military field, the vehicle could be used to test and develop technologies linked to hypersonic weapons, which are capable of traveling at speeds in excess of Mach 5 (around 6,174 km/h). These weapons present unique detection and interception challenges, due to their high speed and ability to maneuver during flight. The development of a reusable hypersonic test vehicle would enable the German armed forces to carry out more frequent and cost-effective trials of these technologies, thereby strengthening their defense capabilities.
Scientific research
For the scientific community, the vehicle offers a platform for conducting experiments at hypersonic speeds, enabling the study of physical phenomena under extreme conditions. This could lead to advances in fields such as materials science, aerodynamics and thermodynamics, with potential applications in the aerospace industry and beyond.
Launching small satellites
By equipping the vehicle with a consumable upper stage, it would be possible to use it as a launcher for small satellites. This capability would offer a flexible and potentially more cost-effective alternative to traditional launchers, enabling more frequent orbital launches that are better tailored to specific customer needs.
Consequences and implications of hypersonic development
Germany’s development of reusable hypersonic technologies has significant implications in a number of areas.
Strengthening defense capabilities
By investing in hypersonic technologies, Germany is strengthening its defense capabilities and ensuring that it remains at the cutting edge of military technology. Because of their speed and maneuverability, hypersonic weapons can potentially bypass existing defense systems, making their development crucial to maintaining effective deterrence.
Scientific and technological advances
The development of hypersonic vehicles requires advances in various technological fields, including propulsion, high-temperature-resistant materials and thermal protection systems. These innovations can have a positive impact on other industrial sectors, stimulating innovation and technological competitiveness in Germany.
Flexible access to space
The ability to launch small satellites using a reusable hypersonic vehicle offers greater flexibility for space missions. This would make it possible to respond more rapidly to customers’ changing needs, whether for scientific, telecommunications or Earth surveillance missions. Europe, in particular, is seeking to strengthen its autonomy in space, and this type of solution could enable more independent access to low-Earth orbits without depending on external players such as SpaceX or Roscosmos.
The challenges of hypersonic development
The development of reusable hypersonic vehicles poses a number of technological and economic challenges.
Thermal constraints
The temperatures reached by a hypersonic vehicle exceed 2,000°C due to intense friction with the atmosphere. This calls for ultra-resistant materials such as reinforced ceramics or silicon carbide-based alloys. The development of these thermal protections represents a major challenge to guarantee the durability and reusability of the vehicle.
Propulsion challenges
Scramjet engines (supersonic combustion statoreactors) are the preferred candidates for efficient propulsion at hypersonic speeds. Unlike rockets, these engines use oxygen from the atmosphere, reducing on-board fuel mass and enabling horizontal take-offs and landings. However, the development of a reliable and efficient scramjet engine remains a complex challenge, particularly to ensure a stable transition between subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic regimes.
Program costs
Hypersonic vehicle projects require considerable investment. The U.S. X-51 Waverider program cost around 300 million euros, and the Chinese WZ-8 project benefits from massive government financial support. In comparison, Germany’s budget for POLARIS Spaceplanes has not been disclosed, but is likely to be lower than that of the major American and Chinese programs.
Prospects and international competitiveness
Europe in the face of the space powers
By developing this program, Germany is seeking to catch up in the field of hypersonic technologies. Currently, the USA, China and Russia are the leaders in this sector, with several prototypes in the advanced testing phase.
The USA has tested the X-51A Waverider, capable of reaching Mach 5.1 over 426 km in powered flight. China, with the DF-ZF, demonstrated its ability to maneuver hypersonic vehicles for military applications, while Russia unveiled the Avangard, a hypersonic missile capable of reaching Mach 27.
Europe, through Germany and France, is trying to develop its own solutions to avoid total dependence on American technologies. In 2023, France launched the V-MAX project, an experimental hypersonic glider, which could eventually complement German efforts in this field.
A possible commercial future?
While hypersonic vehicles are currently being developed primarily for military and scientific applications, some experts are considering long-term commercial use. Companies such as Hermeus in the USA and Destinus in Switzerland are working on hypersonic aircraft for civil transport.
A flight between Paris and Sydney in less than 3 hours is becoming a possibility by 2050, but the costs and technical challenges remain colossal. The POLARIS project could provide the basis for testing some of these technologies, potentially paving the way for commercial use.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.