News Review: HiFIRE - Mach 5.5 at Woomera | ADM May 2010

The first took place in May last year under the joint DSTO-AFRL Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) program.

The test vehicle used in the latest trial was launched atop a booster rocket on 22 March and achieved hypersonic speed on its descent from an altitude of some 200km.

Hypersonic flight is flight through the atmosphere at speeds above Mach 5.5, or more than five times the speed of sound.

Previous hypersonic test flights at Woomera under the earlier HYCAUSE program have achieved speeds up to Mach 10.

"This flight represents a significant scientific milestone, enabling scientists to collect fundamental data critical to the design and development of an engine capable of sustained hypersonic flight," defence science minister Greg Combet said.

"The flight was the second in a series of up to ten planned flight experiments under a joint research program between DSTO and the US Air Force.

The HiFIRE program is investigating the fundamental science of hypersonics technology and its potential for next generation aeronautical systems.

It is exploring fundamental air vehicle and propulsion technologies critical to the realisation of sustained hypersonic flight.

"Hypersonic flight has the potential to revolutionise global air travel and provide cost-effective access to space, giving Australia the opportunity to launch satellites economically for communication purposes," Combet said.

It also has significant implications for the design of future reconnaissance and surveillance platforms and missiles, and those defending against them.

DSTO signed the $74 million Hypersonics International Flight Research Experimentation (HiFire) Agreement with the US Air Force in November 2006.

Up to 10 Hypersonic flight experiments are planned to occur at Woomera under the agreement.