The United States, Britain, and Australia alliance has announced close cooperation in hypersonic weapons and ‘electronic warfare capabilities. 

The move attempts to counter China’s military influence in the Pacific.

The United States, Britain, and Australia said they would work together on defense issues such as hypersonic weapons and “electronic warfare capabilities.”

US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the landmark decision under the new Axis agreement. 

The United States, Britain, and Australia formed the new tripartite alliance in September last year.

A joint statement issued by the three leaders said that their countries, “with the launch of new trilateral cooperation on hypersonic, and electronic warfare capabilities, continue to promote cooperation in information exchange and defense innovation.” We are committed to deepening that. “

Concerns are growing between the United States and its allies about China’s growing military influence in the Pacific, and the announcement is significant in this context.

“As our work progresses on these issues and other key defense and security capabilities, we will continue to seek opportunities to engage our allies and other close partners,” the statement added.

What Are Hypersonic Missiles?

Hypersonic missiles can fly five times faster than the speed of sound. They are used to deliver nuclear weapons to their target, just like ballistic missiles.

Ballistic missiles fly at high altitudes in the air to reach their target, but hypersonic weapons, on the other hand, fly faster at lower altitudes in the air and thus reach their target much faster.

A hypersonic missile is also highly mobile, making it very difficult to track and defend.

Countries such as the United States, Russia, China, and North Korea have tested hypersonic missiles. 

Moscow recently announced that it had used the weapon for the first time in its war against Ukraine.

In October last year, General Mark Millie, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that China had also tested a hypersonic weapons system.

Meanwhile, countries like France, Germany, Australia, India, and Japan are also rapidly working on hypersonic weapons. 

Iran, Israel, and South Korea have also completed their basic research on the technology.