U.S. signs onto AUKUS agreement to share hypersonic testing facilities, technical information

The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced the signing of an agreement that will allow the countries to share hypersonic vehicle testing facilities, as well as technical information related to the development, testing and evaluation of hypersonic technology.

The agreement falls under the second pillar of AUKUS, focused on developing and fielding emerging weapons to protect Indo-Pacific allies against potential conflict from China.

In the announcement made Monday, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said the project -- known as the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation Project Arrangement -- will increase the Defense Department’s and its allies’ abilities to “develop and deliver offensive and defensive hypersonic technologies” by robustly testing and experimenting.

Enabling technologies key to achieving breakthroughs in hypersonic weapon systems include high temperature materials, advanced propulsion systems and guidance and control, Shyu said in her statement.

Any existing national efforts in hypersonic technology will be folded into the project -- including up to six trilateral flight test campaigns that will occur by 2028, funded by $252 million, according to the announcement.

“The U.S. DOD is committed to working closely with the Australian Department of Defence and the U.K. [Ministry of Defence] to further the pursuit of common and consistent objectives for affordable and responsive flight testing of hypersonic technologies and concepts," Shyu added.