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Australia opens hypersonics research precinct in Brisbane

hypersonic research precinct
Illustration: Launch of rocket to test hypersonic speed at more than five times the speed of sound in Woomera, Australia, in 2016. Photo: Australian defense ministry

The Australian defense ministry has officially opened the purpose-built Australian Hypersonics Research Precinct at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

Australian defense minister Peter Dutton on January 25 unveiled the A$14 million precinct that will provide a location for defense, industry, universities and international partners to advance the understanding and use of hypersonic technology through flight test vehicles.

“It’s a complex technological challenge to build vehicles capable of flying at five times the speed of sound, that skim the stratosphere, to target any location on the planet,” minister Dutton said.

“The technology that is developed here will help us to better defend against the malign use of this technology and give us the ability to strike any potential adversaries from a distance and deter aggression against Australia’s national interests.”

“It enables defense researchers to develop and characterize sovereign hypersonic technologies and generate ‘true’ hypersonic flight conditions at large scale in a classified laboratory.”

This precinct is part of the government’s planned A$3 billion dollar capability investment across defense innovation, science and technology over the next decade.

The center accommodates over 60 staff and provides collaborative space for industry, academia and government teams to advance defense projects with a focus on high-speed and hypersonic flight research and technologies.