UK, US Complete Major Hypersonic Propulsion Test for Future Missile

The UK and the US have concluded an extensive hypersonic propulsion test campaign, advancing the development of a cutting-edge cruise missile. 

The effort focused on confirming engine performance and durability ahead of its integration into a high-speed platform designed for long-range operations.

A UK-US team led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the US Air Force Research Laboratory, with support from UK-based Gas Dynamics, conducted 233 static engine tests at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia.

Lasting over six weeks, the trials supported the UK’s Hypersonic Weapons Program and focused on refining engine design through real-time data analysis to enhance propulsion performance.

The tests evaluated multiple design configurations at speeds ranging from supersonic to hypersonic.

“We are living in a more dangerous world, and it has never been more important for us to innovate and stay ahead of our adversaries, equipping our forces with the technologies of the future,” said British Defence Secretary John Healey.

Advancing Hypersonic Technology

London is advancing its hypersonic weapons development program through national and allied efforts. 

In November last year, as part of the AUKUS security partnership, Australia, the UK, and the US signed the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation Project Arrangement. 

The agreement enables joint testing and evaluation of “offensive and defensive” hypersonic technologies under AUKUS Pillar II.

It builds on existing national programs and includes coordinated test flights, shared infrastructure, and combined technical expertise. 

The initiative aims to accelerate the development of hypersonic systems capable of traveling at speeds above Mach 5 and launching from land, sea, or air.