Australia Completes First Successful Hypersonic Flight
澳洲完成首次高超音速飛行測試
On February 27, 2026, Australia reached a major milestone in aviation history.
2026年2月27日，澳洲在航空史上達成了一項重大里程碑。
Brisbane-based company Hypersonix Launch Systems successfully completed the first flight of its DART AE hypersonic test aircraft.
總部位於布里斯本的Hypersonix Launch Systems公司成功完成了其DART AE高超音速測試飛行器的首次飛行。
During the mission, dubbed "That's Not A Knife," the 3.5-meter autonomous vehicle was carried into the upper atmosphere by a Rocket Lab HASTE rocket.
在這次被稱為「那不是把刀」(That's Not A Knife)的任務中，這架3.5公尺長的自主飛行器由Rocket Lab的HASTE火箭載入高層大氣。
Once deployed, it achieved speeds greater than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.
一旦部署，它便達到了超過5馬赫，即五倍音速的速度。
This achievement is significant because the DART AE is powered by a 3D-printed SPARTAN scramjet engine, which runs on hydrogen fuel.
這項成就之所以重要，是因為DART AE採用了以氫燃料驅動的3D列印SPARTAN超燃沖壓發動機。
The mission, conducted with the US Defense Innovation Unit, aimed to move beyond laboratory testing to collect real-world flight data.
該任務與美國國防創新單位合作進行，旨在超越實驗室測試，收集真實世界的飛行數據。
This success reinforces Australia's growing influence in the global aerospace industry and supports AUKUS Pillar II goals.
這次成功鞏固了澳洲在全球航太工業中日益增長的影響力，並支持了AUKUS第二支柱的目標。
By gathering critical data on propulsion, sensors, and materials, the project paves the way for future reusable hypersonic systems, including the planned VISR vehicle, which aims to reach speeds of Mach 12.
透過蒐集推進系統、感測器和材料的關鍵數據，該計畫為未來的可重複使用高超音速系統鋪平了道路，包括計畫中旨在達到12馬赫速度的VISR飛行器。
