In the world of modern warfare, innovation can shift the balance of power overnight. For decades, nations have raced to develop faster, more precise, and harder-to-detect weapons.
Now, the United States has unveiled what could be a game-changing addition to its military arsenal. This announcement has sparked discussions not only in defense circles but also in global politics.
The USS Zumwalt, a state-of-the-art stealth destroyer, has become the first ship globally to be equipped with hypersonic missiles, according to Ziare.
These weapons, known as Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) systems, are capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, making them nearly impossible to intercept.
The Zumwalt’s recent upgrade could reshape naval combat, and it has already drawn international attention, including concern from Russia.
A Technological Leap Forward
The Zumwalt-class destroyer was already a marvel of military engineering.
Its radar-deflecting design allows it to operate undetected, and its electric propulsion and advanced automation set it apart from traditional warships.
However, the addition of hypersonic missile capability elevates the ship into a new league. The CPS system allows the Zumwalt to deliver long-range strikes with unprecedented speed and precision.
Each missile is launched like a traditional ballistic projectile before switching to a hypersonic glide vehicle, which maneuvers at high altitudes to evade detection and interception.
The missiles can travel up to 10,000 kilometers per hour and strike targets far beyond the range of conventional weapons.
For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the deployment of hypersonic weapons on a stealth platform like the Zumwalt is a concerning development.
These missiles could bypass Russia’s current defense systems, undermining Moscow’s deterrence strategies. While Russia and China have also invested heavily in hypersonic technology, this move by the U.S. sets a new benchmark.
