Destinus has been given funding to advance research and development for supersonic flight using hydrogen as fuel by the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial (CDTI) programme of the Spanish Ministry of Science.
The project was chosen as a strategic effort under the Plan de Tecnologas Aeronáuticas of the Spanish Ministry of Research (PTA). Additionally, the project incorporates businesses, technology hubs, Spanish institutions, and has a total investment of €12 million. With the direct backing and cooperation of Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Destinus and Spanish engine maker ITP Aero agreed in June 2022 to jointly establish a hydrogen engine test facility and demonstrate their research in hydrogen combustion (INTA).
The award will pay for the building of a testing facility for air-breathing hydrogen engines, which Destinus will assist in designing and refining through additional testing, close to Madrid. A second funding will also support research into various aspects of liquid hydrogen propulsion in order to test cutting-edge propulsion system ideas for upcoming supersonic hydrogen-powered aircraft. The total investment in the second grant project is €15 million.
