Engineering giant Rolls-Royce has announced a partnership with a firm which specialises in developing hypersonic engine technology.

The firm, which has its civil aerospace division in Derby, has partnered with Reaction Engines, which has bases in Oxfordshire and Colorado, in the US.

The two firms will work together to develop high-speed aircraft propulsion systems. They will also explore applications for Reaction Engines’ thermal management technology within civil and defence aerospace gas turbine engines and hybrid-electric systems.

It follows on from an agreement announced earlier this month between Rolls-Royce and Virgin Galactic to develop power for a new supersonic aircraft.

Rolls-Royce, which develops, designs and manufactures jet engines for civil aircraft at Derby, has been working with Reaction Engines since 2018.

Projects include the first phase of a UK Ministry of Defence contract to undertake design studies, research, development, analysis and experimentation related to high-Mach advanced propulsion systems.

Now, as part of the new strategic agreement, Rolls-Royce has said it will be making a further investment in Reaction Engines.

Mark Thompson, director of global strategy and business development at Rolls-Royce, said: “We have been working closely with Reaction Engines for the past two years, including exploring the potential of high-Mach systems for defence applications, and I am delighted that we are able to strengthen that relationship.

“This partnership follows our recent announcements with Boom Supersonic and Virgin Galactic.

“Reaction Engines’ thermal management skills, added to our suite of existing technologies and capabilities, will further assist us as we explore opportunities in supersonic and hypersonic aviation.

“Building on our many decades of innovation, we will also explore the use of Reaction Engines’ technology within our aerospace gas turbines and its potential application in future hybrid-electric propulsion systems, as we look to make flying ever more efficient and sustainable.”

Mark Thomas, chief executive at Reaction Engines, said: “This strategic partnership is about developing market ready applications for Reaction Engines’ technology in next generation engines and is a significant step forward for our technology commercialisation plans.

“Our proprietary heat exchanger technology delivers incredible heat transfer capabilities at extremely low weight and a compact size.

“We look forward to expanding our international collaboration with Rolls-Royce, a global leader in power systems, to bring to market a range of applications that will transform the performance and efficiency of aircraft engines, enable high speed – supersonic and hypersonic –flight and support the drive towards more sustainable aviation through innovative new technologies.”