The United States Department of Defense (DoD), alongside the Australian Department of Defence and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD), has signed a groundbreaking agreement to enhance the testing of hypersonic vehicles and expedite the integration of related technologies. This initiative, part of AUKUS Pillar II, marks the launch of the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement (PA), a trilateral effort to share resources, testing facilities, and technical expertise.
Under the HyFliTE agreement, the three nations will conduct up to six trilateral flight test campaigns by 2028, supported by a funding pool of $252 million. This initiative aims to bolster offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities, with an emphasis on accelerating the development of critical technologies, such as:
-High-temperature materials,
-Advanced propulsion systems,
-Guidance and control mechanisms.
“We are increasing our collective ability to develop and deliver offensive and defensive hypersonic technologies through a robust series of trilateral tests and experiments,” said Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
By integrating existing national efforts, HyFliTE seeks to leverage the combined expertise of the three nations. This collaboration will advance the development of hypersonic concepts while streamlining operations to ensure affordable and responsive testing of critical systems.
“Collaborative efforts are accelerating the development of underpinning enabling technologies, each of which is integral to the performance of hypersonic weapon systems,” added Shyu.
The project supports integrated deterrence, a cornerstone of the AUKUS alliance, while also meeting trilateral requirements for operational readiness. HyFliTE underscores the commitment of the AUKUS partners to maintaining a technological edge in the Indo-Pacific region through innovation, scientific collaboration, and strategic alignment.
“The U.S. DoD is committed to working closely with the Australian Department of Defence and the UK MOD,” said Shyu, “to further the pursuit of common and consistent objectives for affordable and responsive flight testing of hypersonic technologies and concepts.”