Australia announces boost to hypersonic weapons capability

The Australia government announced today (25 January) that it has officially opened the purpose-built Australian Hypersonics Research Precinct at Eagle Farm in Brisbane. Minister for Defence Peter Dutton unveiled the $14 million precinct that provides a location for Defence, industry, universities and international partners to advance our understanding and use of hypersonic technology through flight test vehicles. Thales is just one company supporting hypersonic research in Australia. (PHOTO: Thales) “It’s a complex technological challenge to build vehicles capable of flying at five times the speed of sound, that skim the stratosphere, to target any location on the planet,” Dutton said. “The technology that is developed here will help us to better defend against the malign use of this technology and give us the ability to strike any potential adversaries from a distance and deter aggression against Australia’s national interests. It enables Defence researchers to develop and characterise sovereign hypersonic technologies and generate ‘true’ hypersonic flight conditions at large scale in a classified laboratory.” The precinct represents just one element of the government’s $3 billion capability investment across Defence innovation, science and technology over the next decade. The centre accommodates over 60 staff and provides collaborative space for industry, academia and government teams to advance defence projects with a focus on high-speed and hypersonic flight research and technologies. Thales Australia said in response to the news that it welcomed the announcement and said “Thales Australia is proud to be actively supporting the government’s innovation and national security objectives through our Collaborative Research and Development Program delivering Advanced Rocket Motor Technology”. Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said the ability of Australian industry to be innovative and adaptive would be critical to the delivery of the government’s ambition. “Thales is proud to work with are range of SMEs including Southern Launch, Airspeed, Mincham and Mackay Defence, who will deliver specialised technology for the complex program including tooling and precision engineering, specialised polymeric insulation products, composite cases, as well as design and launch services. Thales Australia already works with more than 600 Australian small and medium enterprises and a large range of weapons systems Primes to ensure the ADF receives the locally manufactured munitions they need. We look forward to the expansion of the defence ecosystem at Eagle Farm, where Thales currently has around 150 highly skilled and experienced staff supporting ADF programs.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]