Zumwalt: The Navy Wants Stealth Destroyers Armed With Hypersonic Missiles
ByPeter SuciuPublished14 mins ago
For many naval experts, the idea of an expensive stealthy destroyer was nothing more than a fantasy. And while the Zumwalt-class destroyer program has not gone as well as planned, a new plan to arm these vessels with hypersonic missiles could change things for the better: Earlier last month, the U.S. Navy announced that its Navy Strategic Systems Programs had awarded a $22.8 million contract to Lockheed Martin Space Systems to integrate hypersonic weapons aboard the three Zumwalt-class destroyers. The defense contractor will provide missile production long-lead materials, program management, and system engineering for the Navy Conventional Prompt Strike Weapon System Platform-Specific Development and Production project.
In addition, the two massive 155mm Advanced Gun Systems aboard the trio of destroyers – which include the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), and the USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) – will be completely removed. This will supersede a former plan that had called for leaving the AGS in place. It will require significant modification to the three destroyers.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/04/zumwalt-the-navy-wants-stealth-destroyers-armed-with-hypersonic-missiles/
