The United Kingdom is accelerating its efforts to develop a homegrown hypersonic missile, aiming to keep pace with global powers like China, Russia, and the United States.
The goal is to have the missile operational by 2030 as part of a broader strategy to bolster the country’s defence capabilities.
In a recent update, Lord Coaker, Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, outlined the UK’s progress in hypersonic technology, highlighting the nation’s leadership role in this critical area. “The UK is demonstrating its leadership in the global hypersonic arena by active participation in the AUKUS Pillar 2 Advanced Capability Partnership,” he said. The UK has been a key player in advancing capability development alongside its AUKUS allies since the initiative began in 2022.
The Ministry of Defence has established a dedicated programme team, known as Team Hypersonics (UK), to focus on creating a sovereign hypersonic capability.
“Building on previous research and development, the MOD has established a Programme Team – Team Hypersonics (UK) – to cohere Ministry of Defence, industry and academia around the development of a sovereign hypersonic capability,” Coaker explained.
Central to this effort is the Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework (HTCDF), a £1 billion initiative designed to support the phased development of this cutting-edge technology. “Team Hypersonics (UK) has established the Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework (HTCDF),” Coaker said, adding that the framework involves 90 suppliers, including defence contractors, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and academic institutions.
The UK’s hypersonic missile is expected to reach speeds of over Mach 5—five times the speed of sound—enabling it to potentially evade modern air defence systems due to its speed and manoeuvrability. This development is seen as crucial for maintaining the UK’s strategic deterrence in an increasingly competitive global security landscape.
Coaker also noted that testing of key technologies, such as a new hypersonic propulsion system, is already underway.
“With these enablers in place, the testing of critical sovereign-designed and manufactured missile sub-system technologies continues, including a novel hypersonic propulsion system,” he said. Several invitations to tender have been issued to further develop these technologies, paving the way for technical demonstrators and eventually a fully operational missile.
While the exact launch platform for the hypersonic missile has yet to be determined, options include deployment from land, fighter jets, or warships.
The Ministry of Defence has provided few details due to the sensitive nature of the project, but a spokesperson confirmed, “We are pursuing hypersonic technologies to further develop UK sovereign advanced capabilities. We continue to invest in our equipment to meet current and future threats.”
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Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk
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