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3w ago

UK Successfully Tests Hypersonic Missile Engine in Key Defense Milestone

The breakthrough, achieved in collaboration with the US, advances the UK's goal of deploying a domestically-produced hypersonic cruise missile by 2030.

An image published by the British Defense Ministry on Sunday as the British government hailed a "milestone moment on hypersonics research.
Artist's concept of the UK hypersonic

Overview

  • The UK has completed over 200 static tests of a high-speed air-breathing propulsion engine at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia.
  • The engine's successful demonstration marks a critical step toward developing a hypersonic cruise missile with greater speed and range than conventional rockets.
  • This effort is part of the UK's broader hypersonic weapons program under the AUKUS trilateral security agreement with the US and Australia.
  • The program is designed to counter advancements in hypersonic weaponry by adversaries like Russia and China, ensuring technological leadership in defense.
  • The UK aims to deliver a technology demonstrator by 2030, supported by British scientists, small businesses, and collaboration with US defense research bodies.