Hypersonic Weapons as an Emerging Disruptive Technology

Hypersonic weapons are missiles or glide vehicles that travel at speeds of Mach 5+ (over ~3,800 mph) and can maneuver unpredictably in flight . This class of weapons – which includes Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) launched on rockets and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs) powered by air-breathing engines – has been pursued as a major Emerging Disruptive Technology (EDT) in military affairs.

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a fixed parabolic trajectory, hypersonic weapons sustain extreme speeds within the atmosphere and can change course during flight , making them less predictable and harder to intercept.

This analysis answers: What capabilities distinguish Hypersonic Glide Vehicles and air-breathing Hypersonic Cruise Missiles travelling at Mach 5+ with in-flight maneuverability? How does sustained atmospheric speed and unpredictable course-changing make hypersonic weapons harder to intercept than ballistic missiles? What is the operational impact of hypersonic weapons as an emerging disruptive technology? What are the doctrinal implications and strategic outlook for hypersonics through 2025-2035?