EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Beyond the Planned Air Force (BPAF) introduces a series of topics that extend Air Force’s perspective beyond
the objective force envisaged in the Defence White Paper 2016 and the Defence Integrated Investment
Plan. Building upon the culture of innovation engendered by Plan JERICHO, BPAF challenges readers to
identify and explore how technological, societal, and environmental disruptors and drivers may shape how Air
Force provides air power for Australia. Hypersonics is one such technology that is highlighted in BPAF as a
popular research theme, in university and military research around the globe, and for potential applications by
commercial and military interests in air and space environments.
e future operationalising of hypersonic air vehicles is expected to trigger a change in the technology available
to military forces, without signicantly changing the longstanding understanding of the fundamental roles for
air power. A hypersonic strike aircraft could signicantly benet Air Force’s capability of reaching a distant
target inside the time period needed by an adversary to detect and respond with current air defence systems.
A hypersonic ISR drone could enter and exit enemy territory, sending back imagery without being detected by
enemy sensors in time to react. Weapons travelling at hypersonic speeds would present serious complications for
enemy defences with only seconds available to respond against the incoming attack. A high-ying hypersonic
air vehicle could have sucient kinetic energy to launch a small mission payload into low earth orbit.
is paper compiles technical and non-technical information in all its complexity, beginning with appreciating
hypersonic air power historically and considering its future opportunities. is paper also promotes the scientic
and engineering prerequisites, challenges, and limitations that will shape and inuence the technology and its
eective employment and future operations. e APDC BPAF Team has sought to reduce the complexity of
the reading material to make the paper useful to diverse readership; however, hypersonic air power is complex
and cannot be over–simplied without sacricing the knowledge that needs to be factored into future Air
Force concepts and designs. While reading BPAF may be challenging, preparing Air Force for a disruptive
future requires all members to extend themselves beyond their current comfort zones.
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
01 HYPERSONIC AIR POWER
Beyond the Planned Air Force Series
