AUKUS Partners Sign Agreement to Fast-track Hypersonic Vehicle Testing

Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have signed a new agreement to accelerate testing and development of hypersonic vehicles and related technologies under the AUKUS partnership.

The Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement, part of AUKUS Pillar II, will streamline efforts to develop, test, and evaluate hypersonic systems. This initiative builds on a commitment made during the AUKUS Defence Ministers' Meeting in September to enhance offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities.

Hypersonic weapons, capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, are designed for long-range precision strikes and can be launched from land, sea, or air platforms. The HyFliTE agreement aims to advance these technologies through shared testing facilities and combined technical expertise.

The arrangement incorporates existing national programs and will involve multiple test flights across Australia, the U.K., and the U.S., enabling faster progress in hypersonic concepts and associated enabling technologies.

Hypersonic technology is a strategic priority outlined in Australia's 2024 National Defence Strategy. It is seen as critical for addressing time-sensitive and heavily defended threats.

"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 $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 centerpiece of the trilateral agreement, as well as trilateral requirements for the development and delivery of hypersonic weapon systems.