UK, US, Australia Agree To Work On Hypersonics

The United Kingdom, the United States and Australia have agreed to cooperate on hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities.

British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson's office said on Tuesday, following a call between leaders of the new defence alliance.

The Daily Sabah reports the new AUKUS defence alliance, launched in September last year, prompted Australia to cancel a contract for a conventional French submarine in favour of a nuclear submarine program supported by the United States and Britain, damaging relations with French President Emmanuel Macron.

In a joint statement, AUKUS leaders Boris Johnson, U.S. President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said they were pleased with the progress of the program for conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for Australia and the allies would co-operate in other areas too.

The statement said; "We also committed to commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics and electronic warfare capabilities."

The United States and Australia already have a hypersonic weapon program called SCIFiRE, and British officials said that though Britain would not join that program at this point, the three countries would work together on research and development in the area to increase their options.