Image source: topwar.ru
The head of the strategic system programs of the U.S. Navy Vice Admiral johnny Wolfe sure it will be possible to install hypersonic weapons on the Zumwalt class destroyer in 2025 and a submarine of the Virginia class in 2029, writes Defense News.
According to wolf, the Navy of the country strive to complete the development of hypersonic missiles, together with the army of the United States by 2023. Previously, the Navy, stated that submarines of class "Virginia" will use hypersonic weapons in 2028. As the newspaper notes, the new date is associated with a delay to the planned delivery of the first submarine, which will be hosted big rocket, and not with a delay in the development of the missile. Have questions about the dimensions for placement of such weapons. This, incidentally, applies to stealth destroyer Zumwalt.
In the past years and the Navy, and the U.S. army has conducted a series of successful tests of hypersonic weapons, said the wolf. The main effort of the Navy, according to Vice-Admiral, now aims to 2025 to complete the necessary preparations to launch hypersonic missiles destroyers of the Zumwalt class. Even more difficult is to launch missiles from under water, so the work in this direction extended to 2029. For submarine launches the Navy is already preparing the ground in Crane, Indiana, writes Defense News.
According to wolf, another challenge to be solved by the Navy, is the inclusion of the combat system of hypersonic weapons in combat systems, which already exist on the Zumwalt destroyers and submarines Virginia. As to the question of most of those cells launchers.
Russia and China have already got a hypersonic weapon and continue work in this direction. Behind them, the U.S. is trying to catch up with major competitors in a short time.