Quickstep to Research Hypersonic Materials with Defence

Source: Sally Wood

Quickstep is a carbon fibre composites manufacturer who is working with the Department of Defence to identify, analyse and test high temperature materials.

The end-user driven research— powered by the Defence, Science and Technology Group (DSTG)—is the first step towards the development of future hypersonic aerostructures.

Hypersonic aerostructures are components of an aircraft's airframe that are capable of withstanding extreme conditions experienced during hypersonic flight.

The company will obtain commercialisation rights to any newly developed intellectual property, with the ownership retained beneficially for Australia’s sovereign defence capability by DMTC Ltd.

The project will also involve highly technical experts from the University of NSW who specialise in the field of hypersonic technology.

Hypersonics are not a new phenomenon but countries are currently in an arms race to develop the next generation of missiles that cannot be intercepted or detected.

The project, dubbed ‘Hype-X’, will initially focus on the applicability of existing high-temperature materials for the manufacture of hypersonic aerostructures.

It will then move to develop novel materials and manufacturing processes to fill capability gaps.

Mark Burgess is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Quickstep, who said the company is well-positioned to deliver this research feat.

“Quickstep is well known for its advanced composite aircraft structures and has a long history of developing and commercialising advanced composites processes and technologies in new applications.”

"Innovation is at the core of Quickstep, and the Hype-X partnership positions the company in the development of sovereign hypersonic aerostructures and will further diversify and grow our business over the long term,” he explained.

As geopolitical tensions continue to evolve, countries are working to develop manoeuvrable hypersonic vehicles and missiles.

There are two theorised ways to achieve this. First, a hypersonic cruise missile that could see a rocket blast to Mach 5 before using an air-breathing engine, or scramjet, to maintain its momentum.

The second, known as a glide vehicle, could involve a rocket blasting into the sky before releasing a separate hypersonic missile, which has built up enough velocity to travel under its own speed.

This two-step system can cruise along in the upper atmosphere with enough space to maintain lift but without too much to create drag.

Current examples of such technology include the Avangard (Russia), the Conventional Prompt Strike system (United States), and the Dongfeng-17 (China).

DMTC Chief Executive Dr Mark Hodge praised the exceptional leadership in applying science and technology to safeguard Australia and its national interests.

“I’m delighted that DMTC’s relationship with DSTG continues to grow and to have this opportunity to collaborate with Quickstep, an Australian company with a deep history of developing aerospace composites, and with UNSW.”

"We are bringing expertise from across the nation’s leading aerospace R&D organisations to the fore in the development of hypersonic materials, which has far-reaching and important defence and national security applications,” he said.