In January, and again at the end of March this year, Australia's Government announced it intended to allocate $1 billion for the development of new long-range hypersonic cruise missiles.
Boosting Australia’s maritime security for decades to come ⚓️🚢. Pleased to be back in #Henderson today to announce $1 billion to develop advanced guided weapons for #AusNavy. These new capabilities will provide a strong, credible deterrent in our region. pic.twitter.com/mb8Lb9PnCb
— Linda Reynolds (@lindareynoldswa) January 25, 2021
Australia to develop a guided missiles manufacturing and export industry as part of billion-dollar defence manufacturing plan. https://t.co/ODoLB1yiRV #auspol
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021
Australian researchers at the University of Queensland developed two essential technologies for hypersonic cruise missiles:
- In July 2002, the hypersonic scramjet engine that will propel these missiles, and
- In December 2009, high-temperature materials to enable sustained hypersonic flight without the outer casings of these missiles melting.
Dec 24, 2009: "New materials for hypersonic and supersonic hot stuff*
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) December 25, 2019
> University of Queensland researchers are testing new materials to withstand the extreme heat experienced by hypersonic vehicles in flight so they can fly for substantially longer." https://t.co/OG4CgXsVzu
Then, following the failure of a missile test flight in September 2013, Australian development of the technology was abandoned.
Sep 2013. "University of Queensland researchers mothball a hypersonic scramjet project after a rocket prematurely plunged into the sea off Norway during a failed test." https://t.co/diiUz85viq
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) February 10, 2021
Other missile manufacturers and exporters have since occupied the market that the Australian defence industries ignored.
University of Queensland researchers may have contributed to this absence of interest; The first patent application for hypersonic scramjet engine was filed in 2006 - by a U.S. defence contractor.
"A single-stage hypersonic vehicle is comprised of a low-speed and a high-speed propulsion system."
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 5, 2021
Patent Application US11/633,836
2006-12-05 Application filed by Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne Inc.
Did the University of Queensland forget about intellectual property rights?
August 2015. "Scientists took away valuable lessons from the latest trial of the joint Australia-US Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) Program conducted recently at the Andøya Rocket Range in Norway." https://t.co/SnA1sEsm9t #Aus #Research
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021
April 2018. "Lockheed Martin gets $1b hypersonic missile contract from US Air Force" https://t.co/sArXMap8V2 #Aus #Research
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021
October 2019. "One of China's new DF-17 hypersonic glider missiles as seen during the live broadcast of the parade during China's National Day celebrations, marking 70 years of Communist rule." https://t.co/UqjoxoHrZt #Aus #Research
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021
October 2020. "Russia successfully tests new hypersonic Tsirkon missile. ... The first Avangard hypersonic missiles were put into service in December last year." https://t.co/yBDNqmK5Va #Aus #Research
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021
January 2021. "United States DARPA’s Operational Fires Ground-Launched Hypersonics Program Enters New Phase.
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021
Next steps will include full-scale flight testing." https://t.co/U0y3Jkc95c #Aus #Research
"Scientists at the University’s Centre for Hypersonics have been conducting research into all aspects of hypersonic flight for more than 20 years." https://t.co/Vxl5qHF2Vc #Aus #Research
— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021
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