AUKUS alliance to develop hypersonic missiles following Russian advances

The AUKUS alliance, made up of the UK, US and Australia, are planning to increase their hypersonic missile capabilities

Britain, the United States and Australia have announced new plans to increase their hypersonic missile capabilities.

The programme is all part of the AUKUS alliance, and follows the recent development of the high-speed weaponry by both China and Russia. 

The missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and at a low altitude making them significantly harder to defend against.

The weapons can also manoeuvre mid-flight

While the UK doesn’t currently own any hypersonic missiles… the U-S and Australia have an existing joint programme to develop the weapons.

Britain says this new partnership is aimed at strengthening defence capabilities and says there are no plans to develop its own.

Officials also say this announcement is not related to Russia’s use of the weapons in Ukraine but rather an investment in how to defend against the missiles. 

Under the deal, the AUKUS countries will develop hypersonic missiles, and missile defence systems and radars.

Western allies are currently in a race with China and Russia to develop hypersonic missiles.