BAE Systems Australia invests in hypersonic weapons development

BAE Systems Australia announced today that it will invest an additional $5 million this year to speed the development of hypersonic weapons in Australia.

The announcement, which follows a government commitment to develop a long-range strike capability, builds on more than $11 million spent on hypersonics and high speed weapon research in Australia in the past decade.

Known as “Project Javelin”, BAE flagged further accelerated investment over the next five years.

BAE Systems Australian operation already dvelops its own technologies and manufactures rocket systems and software for the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, Nulka (pictured) and the Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM).

BAE Systems said it would work with Australian industry and academia to build an Australian high speed weapons eco-system with the aim of demonstrating a sovereign capability over the next four years.

BAE Systems has been assembling weapons in Australia for the ADF and for export to the US and Canada for more than two decades.

As well as hypersonics weapons technologies and capabilities, BAE Systems is also developing technologies to support the nation’s defence against high speed weapons.

BAE Systems Australia Chief Executive Officer Gabby Costigan said: “That Australia has a solid foundation of research built over decades means that the rapid integration of newly developed weapons into the force structure is achievable.

“Australia’s future investment in high-speed weapons systems, including hypersonic long-range strike and hypersonic and ballistic missile defence, provides the opportunity for the nation to…position the country as a major global contributor in this disruptive technology field.”

Picture: BAE Systems Australia/Nulka rocket

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