building a hypersonic aircraft that could carry perhaps a dozen passengers and travel at astonishingly fast speeds worldwide. ... "We're actively engaged with US defense and national security agencies

sigh Of course you are.

Disclosure: TFA starts with talking about defense and interleaves commercial and defense, and the last sentance I quoted continues with "... and commercial operators", so my quoting isn't entirely fair; it's not like they're at all sneaking in the weapons part near the end. Regardless, the focus on military applications first and foremost is unsurprising and consequently increasingly depressing, the older I get.