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UK Joins Forces with US on Hypersonic Missile Development to Strengthen Strategic Deterrence.
On April 6, 2025, the United Kingdom officially announced a milestone in the development of its hypersonic capabilities following the successful completion of a propulsion test campaign conducted in close collaboration with the United States. This technological step forward, disclosed by the UK Ministry of Defence, represents a key advance in the development of a hypersonic cruise missile intended to provide the British Armed Forces with a decisive operational capability by 2030.
The UK is strengthening its defence posture with record investments in advanced technologies, making hypersonics a central pillar of its strategic capabilities. (Picture source: UK MoD)
This achievement, part of the Team Hypersonics (UK) programme, is the result of a close partnership between the British government, national defense industry actors, and US authorities. The tests were conducted at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia and involved the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the British SME Gas Dynamics Ltd. A total of 233 static propulsion trials were carried out over six weeks, covering the full speed spectrum from supersonic to hypersonic, and validated the performance of an air-breathing engine capable of propelling a missile beyond Mach 5.
This type of engine, which draws in ambient oxygen instead of relying on onboard oxidizers, significantly reduces the weight of the missile and extends its range. Unlike conventional rocket propulsion systems, air-breathing engines enable faster, lower-altitude, and more evasive weapons, capable of avoiding current air and missile defence systems. The tests evaluated different engine configurations, and real-time data collection allowed for immediate design adjustments to optimise performance, marking a critical step toward the planned technology demonstrator by the end of the decade.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey described the development as a necessary response to an increasingly volatile global security environment, noting that "it has never been more crucial to innovate to stay ahead of our adversaries." He also highlighted the central role played by British scientific expertise and SMEs, positioning the programme as a symbol of UK-US technological cooperation in strategic deterrence.
The announcement comes at a time when the United Kingdom is reinforcing its defence posture through investment in advanced military technologies. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently pledged the largest continuous increase in UK defence spending since the Cold War, prioritising hypersonics, directed energy systems, and next-generation air defences. The hypersonic programme, managed centrally from the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, is now recognised as a core component of the UK's strategic capability portfolio.
While no official details have been released regarding the future launch platform for the British hypersonic missile, potential options include deployment from warships, land-based systems, or advanced combat aircraft. Analysts suggest it could eventually be integrated into the Royal Air Force’s F-35B fleet or the upcoming sixth-generation fighter being co-developed by the UK, Japan, and Italy under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
This development places the UK closer to joining the restricted group of countries with advanced hypersonic capabilities. Russia, to date, remains the only state to have used such weapons in active combat, particularly in Ukraine, with the air-launched Kh-47M2 Kinzhal. China has tested multiple hypersonic platforms, including the DF-17 and YJ-21, and is developing newer systems, such as the DF-27, reportedly capable of striking the US mainland. Both countries see hypersonic weapons as a means to undermine Western missile defences and project power in contested regions such as Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
The United States, despite a slower start and technical challenges, is accelerating its hypersonic programmes across the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Programmes like Dark Eagle and the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system are progressing toward operational readiness, while the Air Force has shifted focus from the cancelled ARRW missile to the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM). These initiatives are framed by a broader recognition in Washington of the strategic importance of maintaining technological superiority, particularly in response to perceived advances by Russia and China.
Elsewhere, India is advancing its own hypersonic research, recently completing successful ground runs of a scramjet engine and preparing for long-range missile testing. France is developing the ASN4G, a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile for the Rafale F5, reinforcing its nuclear deterrent under the Force de Frappe. Iran and North Korea, both under international sanctions, have also claimed progress in hypersonic technology. Iran presented the Fatah missile in 2023 and claimed its use in the October 2024 strikes against Israel. North Korea, meanwhile, tested the Hwasong-16B and an intermediate-range ballistic missile fitted with a hypersonic warhead, demonstrating growing ambitions in regional deterrence.
This proliferation of hypersonic programmes reflects a broader shift in military strategy, where speed, manoeuvrability, and unpredictability are viewed as key to maintaining strategic advantage. Hypersonic weapons can penetrate existing air defences, reduce reaction times for decision-makers, and potentially deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads. In geopolitical terms, the development of such systems is often seen as a response to shifting alliances, arms control uncertainties, and the erosion of long-standing deterrence frameworks.
In Europe, the renewed focus on strategic autonomy—driven in part by evolving US foreign policy and security commitments—has led nations like the UK and France to pursue independent high-end capabilities. The UK’s alignment with the AUKUS pact, which includes provisions for cooperation in hypersonic technology with Australia and the US, further underscores its intent to remain a leading player in emerging defence technologies.
The successful UK test campaign is therefore, not only a technical milestone but also a geopolitical signal. It illustrates the UK’s determination to maintain credible deterrence, strengthen interoperability with allies, and position itself at the forefront of next-generation warfare. As global powers continue to invest heavily in hypersonics, the UK’s progress points to a new phase in the evolution of high-speed strike capabilities. With the goal of delivering a demonstrator by 2030, the UK now enters a critical stage in transforming this potential into a fielded capability, reinforcing its role in shaping the future of strategic deterrence.