AUKUS, a strategic submarine pact, turns to missiles
America, Australia and Britain will co-operate on hypersonic missiles
SIX MONTHS ago America and Britain said they would help Australia acquire the crown jewels of the defence world: nuclear-powered submarines. The AUKUS pact, announced on September 15th, reflected Australia’s fear of China’s growing power; America’s willingness to break old taboos to counter it; and Britain’s eagerness to bolster its role in Asia. The three countries also promised to co-operate in areas from cyber capabilities to quantum technologies. Now these allies are turning their attention to hypersonic missiles.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “AUKUS goes hypersonic”
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