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The UK’s Ministry of Defence has announced the completion of hypersonic propulsion testing for a new hypersonic cruise missile concept.
The milestone in the development of hypersonic weapons was reportedly completed in close collaboration between the UK government, industry and the US government.
The engine is poised to power a hypersonic cruise missile concept and successfully demonstrated the performance of the high-speed air-breathing engine, enabling greater ranges than a conventional rocket.
The research aims to support the delivery of a hypersonic weapon technology demonstrator by 2030 through the MOD’s Team Hypersonics (UK) programme to deliver an operational advantage for the future UK armed forces.
“We are living in a more dangerous world and it has never been more important for us to innovate and stay ahead of our adversaries, equipping our forces with the technologies of the future,” UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
“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.”
It’s understood that 233 test runs were carried out at a number of hypersonic speeds (full flight Mach number range from supersonic to hypersonic speeds) during the testing at the NASA Langley Research Centre in Virginia.
The joint team was led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), together with the US Air Force Research Laboratory, and supported by industry partners including UK SME Gas Dynamics.
The extensive testing was part of the UK’s Hypersonic Weapons Programme, and took place over six weeks involving real-time data analysis to refine design aspects and boost propulsive performance.
The trial explored several design variations, ensuring the propulsion system’s readiness for future system design updates.
“This milestone represents a critical advancement in the UK’s defence capabilities and reinforces our standing in the AUKUS hypersonic weapon development collaboration,” DSTL chief executive Paul Hollinshead said.
“The success of these tests highlights the UK’s commitment to technological leadership and innovation in this crucial area.”
