AUKUS partners agree to accelerate hypersonics development

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have reached an agreement to accelerate the testing of hypersonic vehicles and related technologies.

Under AUKUS Pillar II, the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement (PA) will enable the three nations to accelerate development of what could ultimately become high speed weapons delivery systems.

Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen said ramped up testing would include up to six trilateral flight test campaigns to occur by 2028 with a total funding pool of US$252 million.

Shyu said: “The U.S. DoD is committed to working closely with the Australian Department of Defence and the UK MOD to further the pursuit of common and consistent objectives for affordable and responsive flight testing of hypersonic technologies and concepts.”

HyFliTE represents new heights of collaboration amongst AUKUS partners through shared testing facilities and pooling collective technical expertise, according to an Australian Defence statement.

This development follows the AUKUS Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 26 September where it was announced that the three nations were increasing their collective ability to develop and deliver offensive and defensive hypersonic technologies under Pillar II.

Hypersonic weapons are long-range strike missiles that can travel five times the speed of sound.

“The PA will incorporate existing national efforts, including multiple test flights across all nations, giving the AUKUS effort on hypersonics a strong boost.

“These flight tests will accelerate the development of hypersonic concepts and critical enabling technologies.”

Critical technologies include high temperature materials, advanced propulsion systems.

Development of hypersonic technology is a key Defence priority, identified in the 2024 National Defence Strategy.

Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro said: “This agreement will accelerate Australia’s sovereign ability to develop and deliver offensive and defensive hypersonic technologies – through a robust testing and experimentation campaign under AUKUS Pillar II.

“HyFliTE will leverage our collective expertise and innovation enterprises to deliver hypersonic capabilities at pace.”

Australia and the US have bene involved in hypersonics research for many years, including the 2020 Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE) agreement.

Australian company Hypersonix Launch Systems and NASDAQ-listed Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have agreed for Hypersonix to potentially supply up to 20 DART AE hypersonic systems within the US market.

Further reading:
US, Australia to sign SCIFiRE hypersonics agreement
Hypersonix signs US agreement, could supply up to 20 DART AE platforms to Kratos

Picture: Picture: University of Queensland/SCIFiRE