Written by: John C. on 1 April 2026
(A contractor-derived artist’s rendering of the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile. Credit: Raytheon Missiles & Defense illustration)
Regrettably, self-defence preparation is a necessity due to the existence of capitalism. This is because in order for capitalism to expand, one capitalist must procure resources that another capitalist also wants to get hold of. Inevitably this leads to wars. One capitalist kills many, as the saying goes – as well as populations of innocent people.
However, this self-defence capacity must be must developed according to the needs of a particular country.
In Australia this is not what is happening.
Instead, the strategy for defence is geared towards furthering the ambitions of the US in its current and future wars of aggression. Australia’s military has been fully integrated into the US military and is an adjunct to it.
This determines what sort of military equipment Australia purchases and develops. Take as one example, the AUKUS “agreement”. Australia is purchasing a handful of imaginary nuclear-powered submarines scheduled for delivery over a period of decades, at the cost of an eye-watering $400B.
These submarines do not fit well, if their purpose is for Australia’s self-defence. If they ever arrive, Australia will be instructed by the US to deploy them in one of its theatres of war of aggression, possibly with China.
They will be for offensive use not defensive use, a long way from home.
This pattern is repeated in all areas of Australia’s military operations, which has resulted in the surrender our sovereignty and independence by US sycophants here.
A correct balance between the budget for defence and the budget for social programs must be struck. Funding for social programs is a high priority.
As illustrated by the AUKUS example, there is not a good balance of spending between these two competing priorities. Solely on economic grounds, Australia can neither afford nor justify AUKUS.
Further still, as this money is not being spent on the actual self-defence needs of Australia, the opportunity for achieving self-defence capability is being lost. Of course it goes without saying that the first line of defence should be diplomacy, rather than through military means.
Another example of Australia’s subservience to the ambitions of the US military is its participation in the development and testing of hypersonic missiles.
Australia has been involved in this project with the US military and the US military-industrial complex (MIC) for 15 years. Think Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. They have been given huge contracts for this.
These efforts have been ramped up in recent years because China and Russia already have this technology, with the US falling behind.
The current iteration of the project is known as Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE). It is tied in with Pillar 2 of AUKUS.
The project is now at the stage of running test flights, with the aim of fielding in 2027.
These missiles, known as Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missiles (HACMs, pronounced Hack’em), are launched from the air and fly at 5 times the speed of sound with a range of 1900km.
A recently published report by 7 News gives more details.
It is believed that secret testing of these missiles is under way in South Australia at the Woomera Range Complex. It has been noted that officials from the Pentagon’s Missile Defence Agency (MDA) arrived in Australia just prior to the report. Also, US and RAAF military surveillance aircraft have been detected in the area.
When Australian defence officials were approached with questions, they did not reveal anything informative.
They did not admit that such test flights were taking place.
There was a mealy-mouthed response of “This is a longstanding feature of Australia’s cooperation with the US, in accordance with well understood policies and procedures, and with full respect of Australia’s sovereignty”.
Of course they would say this, because they know full well that Australia’s involvement with the US military can only occur by surrendering its sovereignty, but they do not want to admit to this because it is an issue close to the hearts of the Australian people.
It would seem that these missiles will in the future be deployed on RAAF’s F/A-18F Super Hornet fleet. They can also be launched from EA-18G Growler and F-35A Lightning II, and the P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft.
No doubt that some in the RAAF believe that these missiles would be used for Australia’s defence. However, it would be naïve to think this.
Currently no country poses a military threat to Australia despite the claims to the contrary by the mass media and pro-US think tanks like the so-called Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). This will only happen if Australia willingly makes itself a target by participating in illegal US wars of aggression. For example, with China.
These missiles will be called into action when Australia receives the command from the US to support its wars.
As for using these for our own defence in such a scenario, there are doubts whether the US will permit this. Just like the AUKUS submarines.
This is not beyond the realm of possibility. One just has to cite the statement from Trump in the last day to understand how easily the US betrays countries that believe they are “allies”. He said “You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us”. This was in response to European allies not willing to assist the US in its illegal war against Iran.
This is what happens to “allies” who decide not to acquiesce to the demands of the US, even in the slightest way. The Australian defence establishment and government need to learn from this. An alliance with US is extremely risky, especially, as time goes by, the might of the US rapidly declines and it becomes more desperate.
Australia needs to focus its efforts on developing a home-grown, publicly owned self-defence industry which caters for its genuine needs. No cooperation with the foreign-owned MIC. No collaboration with the US Department of War. No strings attached.
As far as Australia’s defence needs are concerned, the SCIFiRE project’s missiles miss their target.
End the US alliance.
