https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-u...-missile-work/
UK, US and Australia ramp up hypersonic missile work
In a joint statement released on 26th September 2024, following a trilateral meeting at the Old Royal Naval College in London, the UK, US, and Australia reaffirmed their strategic commitment to the AUKUS partnership, emphasising their collective efforts to advance cutting-edge military technologies, particularly in the field of hypersonic weaponry. The defence ministers of the three nations discussed progress in developing advanced capabilities under Pillar II of the AUKUS agreement, focusing on long-range precision strike technologies to address global security challenges.
The joint statement revealed that all three nations are accelerating their efforts to develop offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities, marking a significant step forward in the AUKUS agenda. These hypersonic systems are designed to hold
“time-critical and heavily defended targets at risk from increased ranges,” a critical capability in modern warfare. The development of hypersonic technology is expected to dramatically enhance the ability of AUKUS forces to strike targets at unprecedented speeds while increasing the survivability of their assets.
The trilateral collaboration involves a robust series of tests and experiments to co-develop hypersonic technologies, with a particular focus on delivering real-world effects such as strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The statement noted that “trilateral tests and experiments will accelerate the development of hypersonic concepts and critical enabling technologies,” ensuring that AUKUS nations remain at the forefront of this game-changing military technology.
In addition to hypersonics, the AUKUS partners are also exploring opportunities to scale up their combined efforts in undersea warfare, including the integration of uncrewed underwater systems launched from submarines. This collaboration aims to expand the operational reach of these systems, enhancing the ability of the UK, US, and Australia to conduct long-range precision strikes and gather crucial intelligence in contested maritime environments.
The statement highlighted the strategic importance of these advancements for AUKUS nations, noting that “our trilateral science and technology, acquisition and sustainment, and operational communities are working across the full spectrum of capability development—generating requirements, co-developing new systems, deepening industrial base collaboration, and bolstering our innovation ecosystems.” The aim is to ensure that the three nations are fully prepared to face emerging threats in a rapidly changing global security landscape.
As part of the hypersonic technology programme, the AUKUS partners are pooling their industrial and scientific expertise to create a robust joint force that can deliver advanced capabilities across multiple domains. The development of hypersonic weapons is a crucial component of the broader AUKUS strategy, with the statement noting that
“these capabilities will hold time critical and heavily defended targets at risk from increased ranges, enhancing the survivability of our forces and defending our homelands and forces against potential threats.”
The AUKUS partnership has taken significant strides towards delivering a new generation of advanced military technologies, with hypersonic weaponry at the forefront of these efforts. The joint focus on hypersonics under Pillar II of AUKUS reflects the commitment of the UK, US, and Australia to maintain their technological edge and ensure the security of their respective nations and the broader Indo-Pacific region in the decades to come.