La compa\u00f1\u00eda australiana QUICKSTEP, especializada en la fabricaci\u00f3n de materiales compuestos de avanzada, se ha asociado con investigadores del \u00e1rea de defensa de ese pa\u00eds, para el desarrollo de nuevos materiales resistentes a las altas cargas t\u00e9rmicas, que deben soportar las estructuras de los misiles durante el vuelo en r\u00e9gimen hipers\u00f3nico. En el proyecto denominado Hype-X participan adem\u00e1s de la empresa citada, organismos de I&D y universidades, con el objetivo final de incorporar capacidades propias en Australia, en el mediano y largo plazo. Hace a\u00f1os que este pa\u00eds viene invirtiendo recursos y creando \u201cKnow \u2013 how\u201d, en el \u00e1mbito estatal y privado, de alto valor tecnol\u00f3gico en el \u00e1rea de hipers\u00f3nicos, imprescindibles para la Base Industrial de la defensa nacional.<\/p>\n
Composites manufacturer Quickstep and defence researchers will develop new high temperature resistant materials to be used in producing hypersonic aerostructures.<\/p>\n
The company has begun a jointly funded project with the Department of Defence, through the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) in collaboration with R&D group DMTC Ltd, to identify, analyse and test high materials capable of surviving the rigours of hypersonic travel.<\/p>\n
During travel at greater than five times the speed of sound, aerostructures undergo high heat loads.<\/p>\n
The project, named Hype-X, will initially focus on the applicability of existing high-temperature materials for the manufacture of hypersonic aerostructures, then move on to develop novel materials and manufacturing processes to fill capability gaps.<\/p>\n
Under the project, Quickstep will obtain commercialisation rights to any newly developed intellectual property (IP), with the IP ownership \u2018retained beneficially for Australia\u2019s sovereign defence capability by DMTC Ltd\u2019, according to an announcement by Quickstep.<\/p>\n
The project will also involve technical experts from the University of NSW (UNSW), specialising in the field of hypersonics.<\/p>\n
Quickstep CEO Mark Burgess said: \u201cQuickstep 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cInnovation 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The partnership comes as the United States continues to struggle in its development of hypersonic weapons.<\/p>\n
The Pentagon said two days ago a test flight in Hawaii failed as a result of a problem that took place after ignition.<\/p>\n
Australia has built up considerable experience testing hypersonic vehicles, with a number of universities and companies involved in developing materials and hypersonic engines and control systems.<\/p>\n
DMTC CEO Dr Mark Hodge said his organisation\u2019s leadership in applying science and technology to safeguard Australia and its national interests was part of a growing relationship with defence.<\/p>\n
Dr Hodge said: \u201cI\u2019m delighted that DMTC\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are bringing expertise from across the nation\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n