Zumwalt-Class Destroyers To Carry Hypersonic Missiles

U.S. Navy officials have provided more information on its plans to equip its stealthy destroyers with hypersonic missiles, reports the USNI News.

After problems with its 155-mm Advanced Gun System, the Navy has decided to remove the two guns from the ships and replace them with four 87-inch (2.2-m) missile tubes, each capable of carrying three Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) weapons.

The lead ship in the class, USS Zumwalt, is scheduled to arrive at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., next year to receive the new missile tubes. She is expected to be ready for trials in 2025.

The Zumwalt class will be the first naval platform to be equipped with hypersonic weapons.

Virginia-class submarines equipped with the Virginia Payload Module are scheduled to deploy with the C-HGB system in 2029.