Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference his Department's press release entitled Development of battle-winning hypersonic technology accelerated under new AUKUS deal, published on 18 November 2024, what progress he has made since in developing a hypersonic vehicle that can be used in a range of activities.

The Ministry of Defence's Hypersonics programme intends to deliver a weapon demonstrator by 2030. Under the current Strategic Outline Case approval, the current phase is planned to report in early 2027, which will inform future choices.

The UK spent more than £400 million in the last financial year on hypersonic and long-range weapons, including joint projects with France, Germany, and Italy. On Hypersonics, this includes funding for developing technologies, testing, and academic skills and training.

Notably, the £12 million contract for an Industry Mission Partner, let in December 2025, will speed up the programme by delivering engineering expertise to develop the design for the hypersonic Flight Test Vehicle. This will be demonstrated through flight testing before being adapted into prototype missiles able to operate at extreme speeds and temperatures required for hypersonic flight.

In early 2025, UK scientists completed a major hypersonic propulsion test, enabled by close collaboration between UK Government, industry and US government. The propulsion system is set to power a cutting-edge hypersonic cruise missile concept. In all, 233 test runs were completed at a number of hypersonic speeds, marking a critical step forward in UK Defence capabilities.