Kathleen H. Hicks Deputy Secretary of Defense | Official Website
The United States Department of Defense, the Australian Department of Defence, and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence have announced a significant agreement to enhance hypersonic vehicle testing and technology implementation. The agreement falls under AUKUS Pillar II and involves the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation Project Arrangement (HyFliTE). This arrangement will allow the three nations to utilize each other's testing facilities and share technical information for developing, testing, and evaluating hypersonic systems.
Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, stated, "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."
The agreement aims to integrate existing national efforts with up to six trilateral flight test campaigns scheduled by 2028. These campaigns have a combined funding pool of $252 million. The goal is to increase testing pace by leveraging partner resources, test facilities, and experience in conducting similar campaigns.
Shyu further explained that "collaborative efforts are accelerating the development of underpinning enabling technologies, such as high temperature materials, advanced propulsion systems, and guidance and control." These technologies are essential for hypersonic weapon system performance.
HyFliTE will enable the participating nations to benefit from shared expertise while supporting integrated deterrence—a key element of the trilateral agreement—and meeting requirements for developing hypersonic weapon systems.
"The U.S. DoD is committed to working closely with the Australian Department of Defence and the UK MOD to further the pursuit of common and consistent objectives for affordable and responsive flight testing of hypersonic technologies and concepts," Shyu added.
