The development of hypersonic technology is to be accelerated
under a new AUKUS arrangement – bolstering the collective
security of the three nations with battle-winning capabilities of
the future.
This joint work will enable the faster development, testing, and
evaluation of innovative hypersonic vehicles and technologies -
representing a new level of collaboration between AUKUS partners.
This arrangement will also provide a wealth of procurement
opportunities across a breath of UK suppliers; safeguarding and
creating a number of high skilled jobs in the UK and supporting
economic growth.
Hypersonic capabilities can include long-range strike missiles
capable of travelling considerably faster than the speed of
sound, with these advanced systems able to be launched from land,
sea, or air.
Collaborating trilaterally will allow AUKUS partners to
accelerate the development of cutting-edge, battle-winning
capabilities in a way that no one nation could do alone. The UK,
US and Australia will be able to take advantage of collective
resources, shared testing facilities and pooled technical
expertise.
This work is aimed at ensuring each nation has the
capabilities needed to defend against rapidly evolving threats,
with the three partners signing the Hypersonic Flight Test and
Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement.
Existing national efforts will be incorporated, including
multiple test flights of hypersonic vehicles that can be used in
a range of activities.
UK Defence Secretary MP
said:
"This landmark arrangement with our US and Australian partners
demonstrates the commitment of AUKUS partners to staying at the
forefront of battle-winning defence technology.
“By combining our expertise and resources with those of our
closest allies, we are accelerating the development of crucial
hypersonic capabilities.
“This work will keep us ahead of our adversaries on the
battlefield, enhance our collective security and contribute to
maintaining peace and stability in an increasingly complex and
dangerous world."
The flight tests planned under HyFliTE will provide robust
experimentation to accelerate the development of hypersonic
concepts and critical enabling technologies.
The AUKUS defence and security partnership is also facilitating
deeper collaboration across the three countries' industrial bases
and breaking down barriers in acquisition systems. This will
drive resilience in supply chains - an invaluable step forward in
ensuring security.
The Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework
(HTCDF), which was used to source industry support, provides an
accelerated approach to the market. It includes more than 90
suppliers and has a commercial headroom of up to £1 billion. The
supplier's range is across the AUKUS nations and European
allies.
