Australia-US Begin Hypersonic Weapons Collaboration Amid Arms Race With Russia, China

Epoch Times ^ | 12/04/2020 | Daniel Teng

[SeekAndFind]

Hypersonic cruise missiles which travel five times the speed of sound, are one step closer to being part of Australia’s arsenal.

Last week Australia and the United States signed a new agreement to collaborate on developing and testing hypersonic cruise missile prototypes.

When completed, the missiles will be able to traverse the distance of Sydney to Melbourne in just seven minutes.

The missiles are difficult to stop not only because of their speed, but for their ability to slip past radar systems by gliding along the edge of the atmosphere. Hypersonics can also alter their route mid-flight.

The weapons are expected to be fitted to Australian fighter planes.

Commitments to developing the weapons came after Prime Minister Scott Morrison launched a revamped Strategic Update in July to prepare the country for an Indo-Pacific region “that is poorer, that is more dangerous, and that is more disorderly.”

Development will occur under the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experience (SCIFiRE).

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said maintaining Australia’s technological edge is key to the Strategic Update.

“I am pleased to see this agreement come to fruition following my discussions with then-Secretary Esper during my visit to the United States in July this year,” Reynolds said.

“At AUSMIN, we acknowledged the unique role of our defence partnership to maintain our competitive edge and affirmed the value of bilateral collaboration on hypersonics,” she added.

The SCIFiRE Program is based on more than 15 years of collaboration between Australia and the United States on science and technology research into hypersonic scramjets, rocket motors, sensors, and advanced manufacturing materials.

[z3n]

Arms race with Russia and China?

We don’t need no stinking arms race.

We’ve got Joe Biden. He will take care of everything

[brownsfan]

Ha! US will develop hypersonic weapons and hand over all data to the Chinese. Joe, the Ho, Nancy, Chuckie and the rest will be richly rewarded.

[kaehurowing]

Thanks to Obama, the U.S. is woefully unprepared for a war with Russia or China, especially China which has now has a large advantage over our military.

[hellinahandcart]

Ping

[Wilhelm Tell]

Australia should be careful about what info they would share with a Biden administration - it would be like giving it to China directly although Biden will figure out how to finagle lots of money for himself.

[17th Miss Regt]

not only because of their speed, but for their ability to slip past radar systems by gliding along the edge of the atmosphere.

Uh, no.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Aussie’s better do something quick .... Slow Joe will throw them under the bus within days of entering the WH after he throws Taiwan to the Chinese wolves.