The International Risk Podcast Episode 327: Hypersonic Missiles and Global Strategy: Implications for Hegemony, Arms Control, and Systemic Security with Dr Jacob Parakilas
Feb 23, 2026
Dr Jacob Parakilas, research leader in defence strategy and policy at RAND Europe with experience at Chatham House and the U.S. State Department. He breaks down what makes hypersonic weapons strategically significant. He contrasts missile types, explores who is developing them and why. He discusses operational decision compression, air-defence trade-offs, and implications for European defence and industrial policy.
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Two Distinct Types Of Modern Hypersonic Weapons
- Modern hypersonics are two categories: maneuvering hypersonic glide vehicles and air-breathing hypersonic cruise missiles.
- Glide vehicles launch like ballistic missiles then maneuver on descent; cruise variants fly in-atmosphere like fast aircraft at Mach 5+.
Prioritise Proven Capabilities Over Unproven Hypersonics
- Militaries should prioritise proven, cost-effective effectors unless hypersonics demonstrably deliver superior battlefield effect.
- Buying hypersonics means funding sensors, logistics, targeting and sustainment beyond just the missile itself.
Hypersonics As The Penetrating Layer In Complex Attacks
- Hypersonics aim to defeat integrated air and missile defenses by arriving faster and maneuvering to complicate interception choices.
- They are added to layered attacks (drones, cruise, ballistic) as the fastest penetrator to hit high-value targets defenders prioritized.