“2nd Hypersonic Challenges Forum” Panel Discussion

Join us for EMBCA’s “ 2nd Hypersonic Geopolitical Challenges Forum” Panel Discussion on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 2 P.M. EST / 9 P.M. Athens EEST. The panel discussion will be Introduced by Lou Katsos EMBCA’s President and Co-moderated with Technologist and EMBCA Director Eric Hill. Our distinguished panel will include; Johnathon Reyes, PhD Founder and CEO of Halo Engines; Brian W. Cole PhD Associate Dean for Faculty and Planning at the Eisenhower School National Defense University; and Rachel Hytovik a PhD graduate student at the University of Central Florida. This video (click here) is of our first hypersonic discussion. Enjoy.

Hypersonic technology, enabling missiles and vehicles to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, is revolutionizing modern warfare, presenting significant geopolitical challenges.Several nations are advancing hypersonic missile programs, including the United States, Russia, and China, which lead in operational capabilities. Others, such as India, France, Japan, and Australia, are investing in hypersonic research. Collaborative efforts like AUKUS (U.S., U.K., and Australia) further highlight global interest in these transformative military technologies.

One major challenge is the erosion of traditional deterrence frameworks. Hypersonic weapons, due to their speed, maneuverability, and unpredictable flight paths, can bypass existing missile defense systems, leaving nations vulnerable to surprise attacks. This creates instability in global security and increases the risk of escalation during conflicts. For the U.S., maintaining a credible deterrent while countering adversarial advancements is a critical concern.

Globally, China and Russia have already fielded operational hypersonic systems. Russia has used Kinzhal missiles in Ukraine, demonstrating their tactical utility on infrastructure and command centers despite questions about cost-effectiveness and strategic value. Meanwhile, China’s DF-27 hypersonic missile testing has heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, showcasing weapons designed to evade current U.S. missile defenses potentially fueling an arms race and with hypersonic advancements. Russian Avangard and Chinese DF-ZF pose direct challenges to U.S. strategic interests. With all this going on nations may feel compelled to pursue such technologies, exacerbating proliferation risks.

The lack of international norms and agreements governing hypersonic weapons further complicates the landscape. Unlike nuclear arms, no treaties currently regulate hypersonic technology, making it difficult to establish transparency and trust among nations. For the U.S., leading efforts to create a framework for arms control while ensuring its own technological edge is imperative.

In 2024, the U.S. ramped up its efforts to deploy these technologies, including installing the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system on its Zumwalt-class destroyers. These weapons, designed for long-range precision strikes, are part of a broader $13 billion push to enhance hypersonic capabilities. The first Zumwalt equipped with this system is expected to be operational by 2027 or 2028.

Although the U.S. military argues these developments are necessary for deterrence and maintaining technological parity, critics have raised concerns about their high costs and the challenges of defending against such weapons. For instance, the planned U.S. hypersonic systems, which rely on conventional warheads, require greater precision than nuclear-equipped counterparts, adding to the technological complexity and expense. Join us for this fascinating and timely discussion.