UK and US hit major milestone in development of hypersonic weapons

The UK Ministry of Defence’s Hypersonic Weapons Program has successfully completed a major propulsion system test program at NASA’s Langley Research Center in the USA. The propulsion system under development is set to power a cutting-edge hypersonic cruise missile concept, according to the UK MoD; some 233 test runs were carried out at a number of hypersonic speeds, marking a critical step forward in UK Defence capabilities, the Ministry says.

This research aims to support delivery of a hypersonic weapon technology demonstrator by 2030 through the MOD’s Team Hypersonics (UK) program. This will provide a transformational capability that delivers operational advantage for the future UK armed forces, says the UK MoD.

“This milestone moment on hypersonics research, supported by British scientists and British small businesses, demonstrates another crucial area where we are working in lockstep with the United States to bolster our Armed Forces and strengthen our deterrence,” said John Healey, the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence.

A joint team led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), together with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and supported by industry partners including UK SME Gas Dynamics Ltd, carried out 233 successful static test runs at NASA’s Langley Research Centre. This extensive testing took place over six weeks and involved real-time data analysis to refine the system’s design and boost its propulsive performance.

The trial explored several design variations, ensuring the propulsion system’s readiness for future system design updates. It successfully demonstrated the performance of the high-speed, air-breathing engine and enabling greater ranges than a conventional rocket, advancing the UK’s hypersonic weapon capabilities.

“This milestone represents a critical advancement in the UK’s defence capabilities and reinforces our standing in the AUKUS hypersonic weapon development collaboration,” said Paul Hollinshead, Chief Executive of Dstl. “The success of these tests highlights the UK’s commitment to technological leadership and innovation in this crucial area.”

The tests spanned the Mach number range from supersonic to hypersonic speeds, validating the robustness of the engine design and paving the way for future upgrades.