British-German defence startup Hypersonica, which is developing long-range missiles that can travel at extremely high speeds, has raised €100 million in a funding round.
The Series B round was co-led by US investors Lightspeed and General Catalyst, both of which have backed several European defence startups. Existing investors, including Plural and 201 Ventures, also took part in the round.
“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,” said Dr Kerth and Dr Ewenz, co-founders of Hypersonica.
Founded in 2023, Hypersonica has its headquarters in Munich, Germany, and a wholly owned subsidiary in London, UK. Its engineering teams work across both locations. The company is developing a European-made hypersonic missile system that aims to be cost-effective and operate without ITAR restrictions, allowing it to be developed and produced independently within Europe.
The startup was founded by Dr. Philipp Kerth and Dr. Marc Ewenz. It aims to solve some of the biggest technical challenges involved in hypersonic flight, where aircraft and missiles travel at speeds above Mach 5. At these speeds, extreme heat can damage conventional aerospace materials and technology.
To address these challenges, Hypersonica is developing advanced materials, flight control systems and avionics. These technologies are designed to help its missiles fly steadily and change direction while travelling at extremely high speeds.
“Hypersonica is redefining how advanced defence capability gets built. The team pairs deep technical expertise with exceptional speed of execution, and the strength of our support reflects our confidence in both the technology and their ability to deliver,” said Alexander Schmitt, Partner at Lightspeed.
The new funding will help Hypersonica speed up the development of its long-range missile systems, carry out more tests and expand its operations across Europe. The company also plans to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and create hundreds of skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs in the UK and Germany.
