Hypersonic missile development ‘fastest’ under AUKUS: Defence Minister Richard Marles

Australia is developing hypersonic missiles that could travel between Melbourne and Sydney in seven minutes.

An artist's impression of a US hypersonic missile. Pic: supplied

Hypersonic missiles urgently need to be acquired to bolster Australia’s warfighting capability, Defence Minister Richard Marles says, as tensions continue to rise in the Indo-Pacific.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Mr Marles says Australia has the expertise to help develop the missiles, which can travel at five times the speed of sound.

But the fastest way to obtain the critical capability will be under the AUKUS agreement.

“Hypersonics are really important for the future and I think there is an urgency about acquiring and developing (the capability),” he said.

“We do actually have quite a lot of expertise in Australia.

“(But) working with both the US and the UK is how we are going to develop this capability fastest.”

An artist's impression of a US hypersonic missile.

Hypersonic missiles, which could travel between Sydney and Melbourne in just seven minutes, are one of the new technologies referred to in the AUKUS agreement.

Australia entered the global arms race in late 2020, signing a milestone agreement with the United States to build and develop the technology, following almost two decades of research.

But Mr Marles remained tight lipped on how it was progressing.

“Australians should have a sense of confidence that we have a very capable and agile defence force which can operate in many ways to keep Australians safe,” he said.

“But we must make sure that capability grows. We must make sure that these forces are much more potent in the coming decade and beyond.

“As the strategic review looks at the shape of our procurements over the next 10 years, it wants to make sure that we are properly focusing on modern and new capabilities.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles. Picture: David Mariuz

Countries across the globe are boosting their defence spend as concerns grow over military build up in China and Russia’s armed forces.

Taiwan last week announced it planned to increase its defence spend by almost 14 per cent to a whopping $28bn (AUD) following China’s increased military presence during US speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit.

Mr Marles said Australia was also increasing its defence spend, but there would be no “big surprises” in the Albanese government’s October budget.

He maintained that Labor would increase spending to 2 per cent of GDP.

“We see our own modernisation and our own increase in defence spend as the prudent response to the complexity of the strategic circumstances that we face,” Mr Marles said.

“Other countries will do the same.”

Meanwhile, Mr Marles also said the decision about whether Australia will acquire infantry fighting vehicles from Hanwha or Rheinmetall under the Land 400 Phase 3 project was “on track”.