The Pentagon is moving ahead with an exciting development in military technology: it is retrofitting the USS Zumwalt, a stealth destroyer, to incorporate the first-ever ship-based hypersonic missile system. This modern upgrade is taking place at a shipyard in Mississippi, where the Navy is installing missile tubes at the front of the ship, replacing two gun turrets that were never used due to their high costs.
Defense analyst Bryan Clark from the Hudson Institute commented on this project, stating that while the initial decision regarding the turrets was expensive, the Navy could turn this situation around by transforming the Zumwalt into a platform for hypersonic weapons.
This move comes at a crucial time as the United States is engaged in a technological race with Russia and China to develop new hypersonic weapon capabilities. These missiles are notably fast and difficult to intercept, presenting a significant advantage in modern warfare.
In a related context, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made recent threats concerning the use of hypersonic missiles against Ukraine, emphasizing that these powerful weapons could even reach the U.S. West Coast. This statement follows President Biden’s approval for Ukraine to deploy U.S.-made ATACMs missiles to target Russian positions.
Putin has indicated that the Russian military is currently selecting targets in Ukraine, which could include military installations and critical decision-making centers in Kyiv.
As the U.S. refines its naval capabilities with the Zumwalt’s upgrades, it underscores a commitment to remain competitive in an evolving global security landscape, reinforcing the importance of military readiness and innovation.
