A once-criticized $7.5 billion warship undergoes a groundbreaking transformation at a Mississippi shipyard.
According to AP News, the USS Zumwalt, the Navy's most technologically advanced destroyer, is being retrofitted with the first shipborne hypersonic weapon system, replacing its previously unused gun system.
The installation of missile tubes at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard marks a significant shift in the vessel's capabilities. The new weapons system will enable the warship to conduct precision strikes from unprecedented distances, fundamentally changing its strategic value. This development comes as the United States works to match advancements in hypersonic technology demonstrated by Russia and China.
Advanced Weapons Integration Transforms Naval Capabilities
The Conventional Prompt Strike system planned for the Zumwalt represents a remarkable leap in military technology. These hypersonic weapons can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, with enhanced maneuverability that makes them extremely difficult to intercept. Each Zumwalt-class destroyer will be equipped with four missile tubes, capable of carrying three missiles each, providing a total capacity of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship.
Defense analyst Bryan Clark from the Hudson Institute offered this perspective on the upgrade:
It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of them by making them into a hypersonic platform.
The development of these weapons has taken on increased urgency following recent demonstrations by both Russia and China. The pressure intensified after leaked documents revealed China's successful testing of an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon known as the DF-27.
Strategic Value Versus Financial Investment
The implementation of hypersonic weapons comes with significant financial implications. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that acquiring and maintaining 300 of these weapons over two decades would cost approximately $18 billion. This investment has sparked debate among military experts about the cost-effectiveness of the program.
Retired Navy Rear Admiral Ray Spicer, CEO of the U.S. Naval Institute, emphasizes the strategic necessity of these weapons. Despite their high cost, their ability to strike targets from thousands of kilometers away, beyond the range of most enemy weapons, provides a crucial military advantage. The absence of effective defensive measures against these weapons further justifies their development.
James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies, explains the urgency:
Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defense department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages.
Future Of Naval Combat Takes Shape
The Zumwalt arrived at the Mississippi shipyard in August 2023 for this complex integration process. The Navy anticipates beginning system testing between 2027 and 2028, marking a new era in naval warfare capabilities. Despite earlier setbacks with its original weapons system, the destroyer's innovative features, including electric propulsion and stealth technology, position it as an ideal platform for these advanced weapons.
The program demonstrates the Navy's commitment to maintaining technological superiority in an evolving global military landscape. The adaptation of the Zumwalt represents a strategic pivot that could redefine naval combat operations.
Revolutionary Advancement Reshapes Maritime Defense
The USS Zumwalt's transformation from a criticized warship to a platform for cutting-edge hypersonic weapons marks a pivotal moment in naval warfare evolution. The integration of these advanced weapons systems at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi demonstrates the Navy's determination to enhance its strategic capabilities.
The installation of missile tubes capable of launching hypersonic weapons traveling at Mach 5 speeds will enable the Zumwalt to conduct precision strikes from unprecedented distances. This development positions the United States to compete with similar advancements by Russia and China while establishing new parameters for naval combat effectiveness.
