USS Zumwalt to Receive Hypersonic Weapons, Revolutionizing Naval Warfare

Summary: The USS Zumwalt, a U.S. Navy stealth destroyer, will be equipped with the advanced Conventional Prompt Strike system, featuring hypersonic missiles that travel over five times the speed of sound. These missiles can reach speeds up to Mach 8, providing rapid, precise strikes from long distances. While their speed and high-altitude flight paths make them challenging to intercept, they represent a major leap in non-nuclear warfare capabilities.

The USS Zumwalt, a U.S. Navy stealth destroyer, is set to receive a major upgrade with the installation of an experimental hypersonic weapon system, Conventional Prompt Strike. This system utilizes hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds over Mach 5 (approximately 3,830 mph or 6,160 km/h), making them a significant advancement in non-nuclear warfare. Hypersonic weapons allow for rapid, precise strikes from much greater distances than traditional weapons.

The Conventional Prompt Strike system launches missiles like a ballistic missile but is propelled by a hypersonic glider that can reach speeds of up to Mach 8 (around 6,140 mph or 9,880 km/h). Each Zumwalt-class destroyer will be equipped with four weapon tubes, each capable of carrying three of these missiles.

While hypersonic weapons are difficult to intercept due to their speed, they can be tracked by advanced defense systems, which attempt to predict their flight path and launch interceptor missiles. However, the missiles’ maneuverability and immense speed make them challenging to counter. Hypersonic missiles also typically fly at high altitudes (up to 50 miles) to minimize drag and maintain their high speeds.

This new capability adds to the evolving landscape of modern warfare, where hypersonic technology offers both precision and speed, but with challenges in interception.