The hypersonic missile debate is a difficult one to navigate. This event showcases prominent thought leaders in the U.S. policy discourse surrounding hypersonic missiles and will feature a recent paper from the Center for Space Policy & Strategy that attempts to map out the debate. A central argument from the paper is that experts’ views on hypersonic weapons are inextricably linked with their preferred strategic aims, military objectives, vis-à-vis Russia and China. A point that panelists will grapple with is whether experts’ technological views or strategic preferences are driving the debate.