Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS) have entered a Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement.
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Press Release, Washington DC, 18 November 2024: Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen provided the following statement:
The United States (US) Department of Defense (DoD), along with the Australian Department of Defence and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD), today announced the signing of an agreement to enhance testing of hypersonic vehicles and accelerate implementation of related technologies. Under AUKUS Pillar II, the three nations have entered the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement (PA) to use each other’s testing facilities and share technical information to develop, test, and evaluate hypersonic systems.
“We are increasing our collective ability to develop and deliver offensive and defensive hypersonic technologies through a robust series of trilateral tests and experiments that will accelerate the development of hypersonic concepts and critical enabling technologies,” said Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
Existing national efforts will be woven together through the PA, which includes up to six trilateral flight test campaigns to occur by 2028 with a total funding pool of US$252 million. These campaigns seek to increase the pace of testing and take advantage of combined partner resources, test facilities, and substantial experience conducting similar campaigns.
“Collaborative efforts are accelerating the development of underpinning enabling technologies, such as high temperature materials, advanced propulsion systems, and guidance and control,” said Shyu. “Each of these technologies is integral to the performance of hypersonic weapon systems and provides enhanced operational capability.”
HyFliTE will enable the three nations to benefit from the collective expertise of the partners. HyFliTE also supports integrated deterrence, a centrepiece of the trilateral agreement, as well as trilateral requirements for the development and delivery of hypersonic weapon systems.
“The US 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,” added Shyu.
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The development of hypersonic technology is to be accelerated under a new AUKUS arrangement – bolstering the collective security of the three nations.
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Press Release, Whitehall, 18 November 2024: 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, John Healey 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.
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Accelerated delivery of AUKUS Pillar II Hypersonic Systems.
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Press Release, Canberra, 19 November 2024: Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have reached a milestone 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, testing and evaluation of innovative hypersonic systems. HyFliTE represents new heights of collaboration amongst AUKUS partners through shared testing facilities and pooling our deep collective technical expertise.
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. They could be launched from the land, sea, or air. 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.
Development of hypersonic technology is a key Defence priority, identified in the 2024 National Defence Strategy. It is a capability that can hold time critical and heavily defended targets at risk from increased ranges, enhancing the survivability of the Australian Defence Force against potential threats.
“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,” Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro AC, said.
“HyFliTE will leverage our collective expertise and innovation enterprises to deliver hypersonic capabilities at pace.”
Australia remains committed to its domestic and international legal obligations as it pursues hypersonic technologies.
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