Britain to work with AUKUS allies on hypersonic projects

19/11/2024 6:22

        Britain will work with the United States and Australia on the development of hypersonic technology under their AUKUS defence pact, the defence ministry said on Monday.
        
        AUKUS was formed in 2021, with the initial pillar of the pact focused on providing Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.
        
        On Monday, Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said joint work between the allies would also help the development, testing and evaluation of hypersonic vehicles and technologies.
        
        "By combining our expertise and resources with those of our closest allies, we are accelerating the development of crucial hypersonic capabilities," Defence Secretary John Healey said.
        
        "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."
        
        Russia has developed a hypersonic arsenal including the sea-based Zircon missile with a range of 900 km (560 miles) and a speed of several times
        the speed of sound, making it difficult to ward off. Together with the Avangard glide vehicle, the Zircon forms the centrepiece of Russia's hypersonic arsenal.