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LONDON (AFP) – Britain, the United States and Australia announced on Tuesday that they will jointly develop hypersonic weapons under the AUKUS security agreement, which was created to counter China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in a joint statement: “Today we commit (…) to start a new trilateral cooperation in hypersonic, anti-hypersonic and electronic warfare.”
They also agreed to “expand information exchange and deepen cooperation in defense innovation.”
Hypersonic missiles, which can reach speeds of five times the speed of sound or more, are faster and more maneuverable than standard missiles, making them more difficult to intercept.
In October 2021, the United States successfully tested this technology, which has already been used by Russia and China.
In March, Russia claimed to have used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, which would be the first known and in combative use of this system first tested in 2018.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia entered into a strategic partnership for the Indo-Pacific region, called AUKUS, in September 2021.
The coalition plans to deliver nuclear-powered submarines to Australia and the three countries said on Tuesday they were “delighted” with progress in this area.
© 2022 AFP
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