The US launches a hypersonic glide body, or warhead, from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, in 2020. AP
The US launches a hypersonic glide body, or warhead, from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, in 2020. AP
The US launches a hypersonic glide body, or warhead, from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, in 2020. AP
The US launches a hypersonic glide body, or warhead, from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, in 2020. AP


The West is testing hypersonic weapons – this should worry the world


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April 07, 2022

The announcement that the UK will join the US and Australia in developing hypersonic missiles could herald the start of an arms race that might prove to be infinitely more dangerous than the Cold War rivalry between the world's major powers to develop nuclear weapons.

Hypersonic missiles, which can travel more than five times the speed of sound, are a relatively new weapon that have caused consternation in global security circles, given their ability to deliver nuclear warheads between continents in a matter of minutes.

Concerns about the threat these missiles could pose to global security have increased since Washington confirmed last year that China tested a hypersonic weapon. Russia's claim that it fired its Kinzhal hypersonic weapon in Ukraine a fortnight ago has only added to fears about the impact such weaponry could have on modern warfare.

It is precisely these concerns that have prompted the UK to join hands with the US and Australia, who are already partnered in an initiative called the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment – or "SCIFiRE".

On its own, the US is in the process of developing hypersonic missiles that can strike targets at a range of about 2,775 kilometres, and will reportedly be capable of travelling up to eight times the speed of sound. By contrast, the UK and Australia are in the early stages of developing the technology.

Following last year's signing of the landmark "Aukus" security pact between the US, UK and Australia, the three countries have now agreed to expand the scope of their co-operation to include developing their own high-speed weapons such as hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, as well as building electronic warfare capabilities.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin walk past a military honour guard prior to their meeting at the Pentagon last September. AFP
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin walk past a military honour guard prior to their meeting at the Pentagon last September. AFP
We have to make sure that we are right at the top of our game
Barnaby Joyce,
Australian Deputy Prime Minister

After talks this week between their respective leaders, the trio agreed to further broaden the terms of Aukus, which was originally aimed at developing a new generation of nuclear submarines for Australia designed to counter what they view to be China's growing threat to security in the Asia-Pacific region. The pact also includes working together on AI and quantum technologies and protecting vital undersea cables.

The trio have reiterated their "unwavering commitment" to an international system that also "respects human rights". In a joint statement, they said: "We reaffirmed our commitment to Aukus and to a free and open Indo-Pacific." Announcing the weapons development plan, UK National Security Adviser Stephen Lovegrove said that, following the Ukraine conflict, it is "more important now than ever" that allies work together to defend democracy and freedom around the globe.

Because the development of hypersonic weapons in the West is still at a nascent stage, one of the more immediate challenges is to figure out how to prevent missiles launched by adversaries from hitting their targets. These sophisticated weapons have the ability to use the air in flight so that they cannot be intercepted by any of the missile defence capabilities currently available in the West.

Australia is particularly concerned about the threat such weapons could pose to its national security. As Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce explained this week, a hypersonic missile fitted with a nuclear warhead would potentially be able to strike his country within minutes of being launched from China, thereby giving Canberra precious little time to react.

With hypersonic weapons creating, as Mr Joyce put it, an "existential threat" to Australia, he warned that it is vital for his country to build up its defences as quickly as possible. "They can change path, which makes them very hard to detect and even harder to hit," he told Sky News. "This gives an existential threat to Australia. [In] probably about 14 minutes after they [are] launched, they would be able to reach here ... so we have to make sure that we are right at the top of our game."

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce worries about a possible strike from China. Getty Images
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce worries about a possible strike from China. Getty Images

Mr Joyce said Australia needs to be part of the US's hypersonic missile development programme, which also seeks to develop new technologies capable of intercepting the weapons. "This shows the strength of Aukus and also gives big clear flashing lights that we have to become as strong as possible, as quickly as possible," he said.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has already tasked the Pentagon with the challenge of expediting hypersonic weapons systems, as America races to keep up with China and Russia.

This week's announcement has attracted criticism from Beijing, which warned that the move could provoke a new arms race. When asked about the deal, China's UN ambassador Zhang Jun said: "Anyone who does not want to see the Ukrainian crisis should refrain from doing things which may lead the other parts of the world into a crisis like this. As one Chinese saying goes, 'if you do not like it, do not impose it against the others'."

Nevertheless, with the likes of China and Russia already advanced in their efforts to develop sophisticated hypersonic missile technology, it is only a matter of time before the West has the ability to deploy similar capabilities – a development that will only serve to make the world an even more dangerous place.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs: 2019 GMC Yukon Denali

Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 621Nm @ 4,100rpm​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Fuel economy, combined: 12.9L / 100km

Spec%20sheet
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7%22%20Retina%20HD%2C%201334%20x%20750%2C%20625%20nits%2C%201400%3A1%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20P3%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EChip%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20A15%20Bionic%2C%206-core%20CPU%2C%204-core%20GPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%2C%20f%2F1.8%2C%205x%20digital%20zoom%2C%20Smart%20HDR%2C%20Deep%20Fusion%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204K%2B%40%2024%2F30%2F60fps%2C%20full%20HD%2B%40%2030%2F60fps%2C%20HD%2B%40%2030%20fps%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFront%20camera%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7MP%2C%20f%2F2.2%2C%20Smart%20HDR%2C%20Deep%20Fusion%3B%20HD%20video%2B%40%2030fps%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%2015%20hours%20video%2C%2050%20hours%20audio%3B%2050%25%20fast%20charge%20in%2030%20minutes%20with%2020W%20charger%3B%20wireless%20charging%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBiometrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Touch%20ID%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDurability%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20IP67%2C%20dust%2C%20water%20resistant%20up%20to%201m%20for%2030%20minutes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1%2C849%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

TWISTERS

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos

Rating: 2.5/5

Punchy appearance

Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance

WWE Super ShowDown results

Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title

Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship

Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns

Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party

Randy Orton beats Triple H

Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley

Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal

The Undertaker beat Goldberg

 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier

UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs

Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)

1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0

Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am

Timeline

1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line

1962
250 GTO is unveiled

1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company

1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens

1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made

1987
F40 launched

1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent

2002
The Enzo model is announced

2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi

2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled

2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives

2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company

2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street

2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary

TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

Draw:

Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania

Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola

Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau

Updated: April 07, 2022, 3:03 PM