ODA-UNIDIR workshop on hypersonic weapons

A number of States are actively pursuing novel conventional long-range missile capabilities, specifically ballistic missile boosters and manoeuvrable warheads, including hypersonic glide vehicles. Despite the potentially destabilising consequences of these weapons technologies, they have received little attention in multilateral disarmament discussions and generally lie outside the scope of missiles covered by existing bilateral arms control treaties. This meeting seeks to address this gap by providing a venue for a small group of Member States to discuss these weapons with each other, and with relevant non-governmental experts. It will also inform a joint ODA-UNIDIR study on the topic, in particular, on possible arms control approaches.