Hypersonic missiles will be installed on three US destroyer-class ships this month as Washington moves to increase its capabilities at sea and counter possible Chinese and Russian threats.

Three of the US Navy’s troubled Zumwalt-class destroyers will be fitted with the hypersonic missiles, replacing the ships’ two massive 155mm Advanced Gun Systems (AGS).

Upon finishing these changes in 2025, the Zumwalt-class would be the first US naval platform to be armed with hypersonic weapons.

The conversion aims to make the futuristic stealth vessels into blue-water strike platforms, in contrast with their original purpose of operating in the littorals and supporting forces ashore with guided rounds from their dual 155mm guns.

The Zumwalt class was originally built around two 155mm AGS weapons. However, the high cost of the AGS’ guided rounds at US$1 million each – approaching that of a Tomahawk cruise missile – stopped the US Navy from mass procurement.

Also, the proliferation of littoral defenses such as anti-ship missile batteries, naval mines and coastal submarines may have made the Zumwalt destroyers too vulnerable for shore bombardment roles.

Replacing the twin AGS weapons, the Zumwalt class would be fitted with at least two sets of hypersonic missile tubes inserted on the port and starboard sides of the ship. Replacing the Zumwalt’s AGS mounts with hypersonic missile tubes gives the class strategic-level capabilities, while preserving its 80 existing vertical launchers, which are vital for air defense and anti-ship missiles.

These missile tubes would be based on the Multiple All-up-round Canisters (MAC) system installed on four Ohio class nuclear guided-cruise missile submarines. Aboard the Zumwalt class, these MACs could be loaded with three Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) missiles per tube.

However, the US Navy has not given the exact numbers of how many tubes or hypersonic missiles the Zumwalt class will carry.

Advanced technologies

The US Navy may have planned to repurpose the Zumwalt class from being a failed shore bombardment platform into a hypersonic weapons launcher to continue utilizing the advanced technologies featured in the class. These technologies include its stealth characteristics, radars, electric propulsion systems and processing capabilities.

However, this may also be a move to save what was already an unfeasible design in the first place.

The Zumwalt’s tumblehome stealth hull could potentially become unstable in high seas and can be detected with low-frequency radar. Also, no close-in weapons systems (CIWS) were installed on the class to maximize its stealth features, making it vulnerable to air and anti-ship missile attacks.

In addition, the high cost of $4.24 billion per unit for only three ships means there might not be enough Zumwalt ships to fulfill US Navy mission requirements.

Such an approach to weapons design may reflect the US tendency to spend exorbitant amounts on over-engineered and overly-complex designs which promise to do so much yet cannot be mass-produced, due to high costs.

These designs may also be aimed at accomplishing too much that they end up not being specialized for any role.

That said, it may be more practical for the US Navy to install hypersonic weapons on cheaper, more numerous assets.

These could include the upcoming Constellation-class frigates, which are designed to take up the role of inexpensive general-purpose warships that can be bought in large numbers, in order to complement the capabilities of larger and more capable ships such as the Arleigh Burke and Zumwalt class.

While hypersonic weapons are still in their infancy and therefore have high costs at present, it can be reasonably expected that costs will sink once the technology matures and production rates pick up, allowing more warships to be armed with them.

Also, it could be more feasible to start with a new ship class designed from the outset to be armed with hypersonic missiles. While the Zumwalt class is planned to be equipped with hypersonic weapons, their high unit cost, unproven technology and small number may restrict their roles into being technology demonstrators for more feasible and sustainable ship designs.

That said, the US Navy’s planned Next-Generation DDG (X) destroyers are expected to be equipped with hypersonic and directed energy weapons, and feature key technologies featured on the Zumwalt class, such as the electric propulsion and electricity generation systems.

Construction of the new class is planned to start in 2028 and may be substantially cheaper per unit than the Zumwalt class, with a cost estimate of $1 billion per hull.

https://asiatimes.com/2022/03/us-navy-to-arm-destroyers-with-hypersonic-weapons/

MaximoneyXchang:
Okay. Yet they will be claiming they don’t want war! If they don’t want war, why create weapons of war?

aribisala0:


Does the US have hypersonic missiles? Yinmu

But they betrayed Ukraine? Instead of helping them they are taking photographs and talking about war crimes. Betrayers!!

FERNANDEZISBACK:

The stuffs and aid they keep sending to Ukraine is what?
Is that not help?

How did they betray Ukraine?

aribisala0:

Audio stuff while millions of Ukrainians are refugees?

They are watching from the sidelines while Russia is unleashing mayhem . Gaddafi did not do up to that before they imposed a no fly zone. They encouraged Ukraine in hoping they will one day join NATO so they should impose a No Fly zone. Failure to do so is betrayal

AsampeteNwaanyi:
this is why I keep laughing at those people that do hype countries like China and North Korea.

I keep telling people, battle for battle war to war. US fit smoke and crumble any country in this world under 2 weeks.
this one no be hype but fact.
country wey their defense budget alone is even bigger than many country's annual budget.
you think say na only riffles dem dey use am buy or do you think they loot money meant for defence.

These guys knows this, countries like China knows this that's why they dare not go into war with US either combat or economic war.

This is how some people hyped Japan during world War 2
we knew the outcome later.
fact is that there are many hidden weapons the US have that you're yet to know.

aribisala0:
But they could not smoke Afghanistan in 20 years?

How long did it take to oust Sadaam Hussein? a lot longer than 2weeks and oly after killing thousands of civilians and then millions more after he died.

They could not smoke Viet Nam

They could not smoke Somalia


Tell us who they have smoked in your lifetime?

FERNANDEZISBACK:

Yeah this is also audio aid...
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2022/3/11/us-congress-gives-final-approval-to-13-6b-ukraine-aid-budget

AsampeteNwaanyi:
lol
I laugh at your ignorance
na your type hyped Japanese back then

aribisala0:


Does the US have hypersonic missiles? Yinmu

But they betrayed Ukraine? Instead of helping them they are taking photographs and talking about war crimes. Betrayers!!

aribisala0:
Very audio

Typical American "aid" is just payments to American companies none of that money leaves American banks

Will they email the aid to Kiev or send it by Whatsapp?

We are talking of millions of desperate refugees and ceaseless bombardment and they are making speeches and giving standing ovations.
Why can't they impose and enforce a no fly zone? Cowardice

MALIGNANTGuest:
Enough of all these NONSENSE!
I don't know what PUTIN stands to gain apart from registering his name in the wrong book of history. Hasn't he killed enough!
This was clearly an unprovoked war which could have been sorted out via other means.

IF this escalates, the entire world will suffer the damnable. People are already going through a lot for being on planet earth.

FERNANDEZISBACK:

How is that an act of cowardice?
As long as NATO doesn’t involve itself directly in the war then Vladimir Putin isn’t allowed to use nuclear weapons... NATO can't involve themself directly..

It is simple common sense...Ukraine is not a member of NATO and militarily NATO cannot interfere.. Establishing a no-fly zone will risk direct conflict..

baralatie:

They already have hypersonic missles installed.and tested in the air force and have already developed,tested and installed an anti defense system against hypersonic missles

aribisala0:
How do you know this? Please share a source

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2022/01/why-do-us-hypersonic-missile-tests-keep-failing-theyre-going-too-fast/360276/

baralatie:

Yes I know that story line but it has been taken over by very,very serious events in the us military !
I can tell you that they have installed a defence system against hypersonic missles and the us have hypersonic missile launch capabilities!

aribisala0:
How do you know this?

baralatie:

Sometimes people slip up!

aribisala0:
You are communicating to yourself and no one else.

Are you able to tell us the basis for your claim?

baralatie:

I am communicating to my self?

Ok!
Make Russia launch as many hypersonic missles as they like.maybe they might get lucky

aribisala0:
That is not the point

You made factual claims

I asked how you know this?

You cannot answer and you are resorting to bluster

Your claims were very specific and detailed

How do you know those things? Simple

Stop waffling

baralatie:

You want to cut my neck bah

aribisala0:
Nah just stop talking rubbish without basis in public. You are likely to be called out and made to look empty and foolish