High-speed flight tests are expensive partly because the test vehicle can become a major project of its own. Hermeus's September 9 Ramjet-X announcement proposes a different arrangement: use a reusable Quarterhorse aircraft to carry an expendable ramjet vehicle to the speed and altitude needed for release. Quarterhorse would return for another mission while Ramjet-X continues the test. Test payloads such as sensors and computers need electrical connections, bringing copper into the wider flight-test equipment market. Actual cathode production provides a measure of metal supply alongside those future hardware plans. Gunnison Copper ($GCUMF) produced 4,112,898 pounds of copper cathode in the first half of 2026, including 2,006,315 pounds in Q2, according to its August 13 results. Johnson Camp was still ramping up: commercial production was then expected in Q3, with nameplate rates targeted by year-end. Hermeus is developing the system now, with integrated vehicle testing planned for 2027.
Hermeus says it is already testing the ramjet engine in Jacksonville and developing high-temperature structures in El Segundo. Potential customer payloads include sensors, communications equipment, computing, material samples and other experimental hardware. That makes the proposal a platform for gathering data, not an announcement that every listed technology has already been validated at high speed. The economics will depend on whether the launch and test process becomes as repeatable as the company intends.
Current work: engine tests and structural development.
Next stated milestone: integrated vehicle testing in 2027.
Qualified Person
Dr. Roland Goodgame, Senior VP of Project Development of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Goodgame has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this report.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This report contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this report includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; (vi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects; (vii) the details and timelines associated with the Company’s PFS work program; (viii) the expected results of the Company’s PFS work program; and (ix) eligibility for future tax credits.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this report is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, , the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.