October 28th, 2025 / 7.00 - 8.30 p.m. / Genscherallee 3, 53113 Bonn

In 2019, Russia unveiled its Awangard stratospheric hypersonic glider for the first time and saw itself as the long-term leader in development. However, China unveiled its DF-ZF system at the same time, and the US is working on Dark Eagle. Hypersonic weapons are defined as systems that fly toward targets at at least five times the speed of sound. According to current research, the only hypersonic weapon that has been used in combat to date is the Russian aircraft-based Kinschal system. Will these weapons further alter the balance of power between states? Are there any defense systems? What exactly lies behind these weapon systems? And beside the technology, what implications do such systems have for the security policy environment?

The lecture will begin by reviewing the technical and physical fundamentals of hypersonic systems in order to establish a common understanding of the functionality and potential of this technology. In the following, the implications for existing air defense systems will be analyzed. The discussion will focus on the challenges arising from the introduction of hypersonic systems and the possible options for responding to them, both at the technological and political levels.  The aim of the event is to shed light on the gap between technological development and political decision-making and to provide impetus for a fact-based discussion of the topic.