US army to hold joint hypersonic missile tests with Australia in 2024
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US Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu states that AUKUS has been amping up partnerships in hypersonic technologies for the past year, and announces that the tests will be conducted next year.
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Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, second right, walks during a meeting with US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego, on March 13, 2023. (AP)
US Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu stated that the Defense Department intends to hold joint hypersonic missile tests with the Australian military in 2024.
"We're already in the process of working very closely with them [the Australian Defense Department] to figure out how do we integrate some of our [Hypersonics] experimentations in Australia," the DefenseNews website cited her as stating on Sunday.
Shyu added that the nations amped up their partnership in hypersonic technologies for the past year, and announced that the tests will be conducted next year. Part of the second stage of cooperation in the AUKUS partnership is technology, which includes quantum computing, autonomy and electronic warfare research.
Read more: Lavrov warns AUKUS may cause long regional confrontation
Upping the ante
Just two days ago, Australia stated its plans to utilize advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, and deep space radar to address "China's assertiveness in the Pacific."
During a meeting in California, Australia's Defense Minister, Richard Marles, joined counterparts from the United States and the United Kingdom, Lloyd J Austin, and Grant Shapps, to unveil the second component of the AUKUS agreement.
This development follows Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recent criticism of a Chinese naval ship's alleged provocative actions.
Back in August, a US nuclear-powered submarine reached Australia, making it the first of such vessels to ever visit the country since the United States, Canberra, and the UK signed the trilateral security pact.
"USS North Carolina (SSN 777) docked at HMAS Stirling, a naval base in Western Australia, today following participation in Talisman Sabre 2023," the US Navy said, adding that this would be the first trip by a Virginia-class submarine to the country since the leaders’ announcement of the AUKUS Optimal Pathway.
In September 2021, the United States, UK, and Australia unveiled AUKUS, a military alliance aimed to boost nuclear capabilities and "strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region" as Washington grows wary of China's growing power.
