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A new sovereign project has been established to inform the future development of hypersonic aerostructures.
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The Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is co-funding a new project led by Quickstep Holdings Ltd in collaboration with the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) — aimed at identifying, analysing and testing high temperature materials to support the development of future hypersonic aerostructures.
Dubbed Hype-X, the project seeks to inform production of components of an aircraft's airframe, designed to withstand extreme conditions experienced during hypersonic flight, including high heat exposure.
Initially, Hype-X would focus on applicability of existing high-temperature materials for the manufacture of hypersonic aerostructures, before exploring novel materials and manufacturing processes to fill capability gaps.
Quickstep is expected to obtain commercialisation rights to any newly developed intellectual property (IP), with DMTC Ltd to retain IP ownership.
Stakeholders from the University of NSW (UNSW), specialising in the field of hypersonics, are also expected to support the project.
“Quickstep is well-known for its advanced composite aircraft structures and has a long history of developing and commercialising advanced composites processes and technologies in new applications,” Quickstep CEO and managing director Mark Burgess said.
“Innovation is at the core of Quickstep, and the Hype-X partnership positions the Company in the development of sovereign hypersonic aerostructures and should further diversify and grow our business over the long term.”
DMTC chief executive Dr Mark Hodge welcomed DSTG’s support for advanced capability development as part of Australia’s sovereign industrial capability endeavour.
“I’m delighted that DMTC’s relationship with DSTG continues to grow and to have this opportunity to collaborate with Quickstep, an Australian company with a deep history of developing aerospace composites, and with UNSW,” Dr Hodge said.
“We are bringing expertise from across the nation’s leading aerospace R&D organisations to the fore in the development of hypersonic materials, which has far-reaching and important defence and national security applications.”
The commencement of Hype-X comes less than two weeks after Automated Solutions Australia announced its partnership with Alabama-based Aerobotix to establish a robotic automation capability, designed to facilitate the development, testing and manufacturing of hypersonic missiles.
Both companies specialise in turn-key robotic integration, including the precise application of paints and performance coatings.
Aerobotix has previously test robotic processes used to scan, sand, measure and paint hypersonics, while ASA has supported the installation of over 100 FANUC painting robots in Australia.
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
