Startups
Reaction Engines is pioneering the next generation of space propulsion
Reaction Engines Limited (‘Reaction Engines’) is a privately held technology company that is unlocking the future of hypersonic flight, space access and is revolutionising thermal management. The Company is based in Culham, Oxfordshire, UK and employs over 200 staff across its sites in the UK and US.
Reaction Engines’ innovative technology has the backing of some of the most influential names in aerospace and finance. The Company is supported by the UK Government, UK Space Agency and European Space Agency and its US team are working with US Government and industry partners. It has received investments from BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Boeing’s venture capital arm, HorizonX, and is collaborating with these leading aerospace companies on the development of its own technology and on other joint projects.
Reaction Engines’ proprietary precooler technology is transforming what’s possible in the world of heat management; delivering world-leading heat transfer capabilities at low weight and at a compact size.
The precooler is a key element of Reaction Engines’ revolutionary SABRE™ engine (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine), a new class of aerospace propulsion that has the potential to provide air-breathing thrust from standstill on the runway to speeds above five times the speed of sound in the atmosphere. SABRE engines, a leading contender for the next generation of hypersonic flight and space access vehicles, are highly scalable, allowing multiple applications and are unique in delivering the fuel efficiency of a jet engine with the power and high-speed ability of a rocket. Individual components of the SABRE engine have been successfully tested and demonstrated.
In addition to SABRE, Reaction Engines’ precooler is a potential enabling technology for near-term propulsion systems and other commercial applications. The Company’s Applied Technologies team is adapting the innovative heat exchange systems designed for SABRE and applying them to a wide range of commercial industries, including improving performance in motorsport, converting waste energy into renewable electricity and supporting sustainable aviation.
More information about Reaction Engines can be found at www.reactionengines.co.uk
Reaction Engines Limited (‘Reaction Engines’) is a privately held technology company that is unlocking the future of hypersonic flight, space access and is revolutionising thermal management. The Company is based in Culham, Oxfordshire, UK and employs over 200 staff across its sites in the UK and US.
Reaction Engines’ innovative technology has the backing of some of the most influential names in aerospace and finance. The Company is supported by the UK Government, UK Space Agency and European Space Agency and its US team are working with US Government and industry partners. It has received investments from BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Boeing’s venture capital arm, HorizonX, and is collaborating with these leading aerospace companies on the development of its own technology and on other joint projects.
Reaction Engines’ proprietary precooler technology is transforming what’s possible in the world of heat management; delivering world-leading heat transfer capabilities at low weight and at a compact size.
The precooler is a key element of Reaction Engines’ revolutionary SABRE™ engine (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine), a new class of aerospace propulsion that has the potential to provide air-breathing thrust from standstill on the runway to speeds above five times the speed of sound in the atmosphere. SABRE engines, a leading contender for the next generation of hypersonic flight and space access vehicles, are highly scalable, allowing multiple applications and are unique in delivering the fuel efficiency of a jet engine with the power and high-speed ability of a rocket. Individual components of the SABRE engine have been successfully tested and demonstrated.
In addition to SABRE, Reaction Engines’ precooler is a potential enabling technology for near-term propulsion systems and other commercial applications. The Company’s Applied Technologies team is adapting the innovative heat exchange systems designed for SABRE and applying them to a wide range of commercial industries, including improving performance in motorsport, converting waste energy into renewable electricity and supporting sustainable aviation.
More information about Reaction Engines can be found at www.reactionengines.co.uk
Overview
Location
United Kingdom, England, Abingdon
Employees
201-500
Phone
+44 1865 520200
Total raised
$37.73M
Founded date
1989
Funding Rounds 1
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Mentions in press and media 9
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| Sep 25, 2024 | £20M rescue deal to be a lifeline for Reaction Engines amid looming insolvency | Nominations for the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open. Tell us who is leading. British hypersonic aviation company Reaction Engines is on the verge of securing a £20 million rescue deal led by the UAE’s Strategic Development Fun... |
| Jul 19, 2022 | UK launches 'killer penguin' hypersonic weapon project to take on China and Russia Thank you for subscribing! | TechUK launches 'killer penguin' hypersonic weapon project to take on China and Russia Britain will build its own hypersonic flight technology for the military as the UK enters the new arms race with Russia, China and the USA - it could mak... |
| Nov 1, 2019 | Reaction Engines’ Mach 5 engine is just the tip of the new aerospace boom | Imagine a hypersonic passenger aircraft that would cut the journey time between London and New York to around two hours. At Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, the aircraft would complete a trip across the Atlantic in around 120 minut... |
| Oct 15, 2019 | UK startups are shying away from aerospace, says Boeing | Boeing and the UK government are trying to tempt more startups to work with the aerospace industry — a sector that can feel daunting for many — with the launch of a two-year, £2m accelerator programme. “The barriers for entry into the aeros... |
| Apr 9, 2019 | Hypersonic Rocket Engine Passes Testing Milestone | Most aircraft are limited to subsonic cruising speeds, but an experimental hypersonic engine from a UK-based firm is one step closer to reality today. Reaction Engines says it successfully tested an integral component of its Synergetic Air ... |
| Apr 9, 2019 | Top startup news for today, Tuesday, April 9, 2019 | Good morning! Below are some of the top tech startup news stories for today, Tuesday, April 9. Walmart is rolling out robots to monitor inventory, scrub floors and keep labor costs down. The word’s largest retail giant Walmart is expanding... |
| Apr 12, 2018 | Reaction Engines Raises Further £26.5M in Funding | Reaction Engines, an Abingdon, UK-based designer and developer of next generation aerospace engines, raised a further £26.5m in funding. Backers included Baillie Gifford Asset Management, Woodford Investment Management, Boeing HorizonX Vent... |
| Apr 11, 2018 | Boeing and Rolls-Royce invest in UK space engine startup, Reaction Engines | Reaction Engines Limited (REL), the leader in advanced propulsion systems, announced it has received investment of $37.5 million from both Boeing and Rolls-Royce with participation from Baillie Gifford Asset Management and Woodford Investme... |
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FAQ about Reaction Engines
When was Reaction Engines founded?
Reaction Engines was founded in 1989.
How much funding has Reaction Engines raised?
Reaction Engines has raised $37.73M in total across 1 funding round.
What has the press written about Reaction Engines?
Parsers VC has collected 9 articles mentioning Reaction Engines, among them “£20M rescue deal to be a lifeline for Reaction Engines amid looming insolvency” (Sep 25, 2024) and “UK launches 'killer penguin' hypersonic weapon project to take on China and Russia Thank you for subscribing!” (Jul 19, 2022).
Is Reaction Engines still active?
Yes, Reaction Engines is active; its latest activity on Parsers VC dates from Mar 28, 2025.