hypersonic

U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon

The following is the Jan. 12, 2023, Congressional Research Service In Focus report, The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon.

From the report

What Is the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon?

The Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), with a reported range of 1,725 miles, consists of a ground-launched missile equipped with a hypersonic glide body and associated transport, support, and fire control equipment. According to the Army:

This land-based, truck-launched system is armed with...

https://news.usni.org/2023/01/13/u-s-armys-long-range-hypersonic-weapon

USS Zumwalt’s Recent Pacific Underway is ‘First Step’ for Future of the Class, Says PACFLEET Commander

USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) returns to San Diego, Nov. 10, 2022. US Navy Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of next year’s installation of hypersonic missiles, the Navy took one of its most advanced warships out for a three-month underway in the Western Pacific to test the ship’s capabilities and reliability, the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet told USNI News.

USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), this month, wrapped up an operational testing period in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, giving the service the opportunity to...

Navy Details Hypersonic Missile Plan for Zumwalt Destroyers, Virginia Submarines

Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., on Aug. 4, 2022 USNI News Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. – The trio of Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyers could each field up to a dozen hypersonic missiles, with the first ship ready for testing in 2025, USNI News has learned.

The service has determined that the hull can accommodate four 87-inch missile tubes that can each hold multiple missiles, Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe the head of the Navy’s strategic systems programs, told...

Report to Congress on Hypersonic Missile Defense

The following is the Oct. 3, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, Hypersonic Missile Defense

From the report

Hypersonic weapons, like ballistic missiles, fly at speeds of at least Mach 5, or roughly 1 mile per second. Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons do not follow a ballistic trajectory and can maneuver en route to their target. Russia reportedly fielded its first hypersonic weapons in December 2019, while some experts believe that China fielded hypersonic weapons as early as...

https://news.usni.org/2022/10/05/report-to-congress-on-hypersonic-missile-defense

UPDATED: HII Wins $42M Award for Lyndon B. Johnson Combat System Activation

Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., on Aug. 4, 2022 USNI News Photo

This post was updated with a statement from HII.

Ingalls Shipbuilding was awarded a $41.6 million contract modification to begin the combat system activation of Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) in Mississippi, according to a Monday Pentagon announcement.

The shipyard will provide, “temporary dock services and maintenance to the ship … to accomplish the...

https://news.usni.org/2022/08/29/hii-wins-42m-award-for-lyndon-b-johnson-combat-system-activation

HII Set to Install First Hypersonic Missiles on USS Zumwalt, USS Michael Monsoor During Repair Period

Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., on Aug. 4, 2022 USNI News Photo

A Mississippi shipyard is set to install the first long range hypersonic weapons on a U.S. warship in an upcoming repair period, USNI News has learned.

According to a Friday pre-solicitation notice from Naval Sea Systems Command, the Navy has selected Ingalls Shipbuilding for a dry-dock period for guided-missile destroyers USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001).

“The...

https://news.usni.org/2022/08/12/hii-set-to-install-first-hypersonic-missiles-on-uss-zumwalt-uss-michael-monsoor-during-repair-period

GAO Report on Hypersonic Missile Defense

The following is the June Government Accountability Office report, Missile Defense: Better Oversight and Coordination Needed for Counter-Hypersonic Development.

What GAO Found

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) continues to build components of the Missile Defense System (MDS), test its capabilities, and plan for countering evolving threats. In fiscal year 2021, MDA made progress, but continued to fall short of its goals for asset deliveries and testing. For example, MDA successfully delivered many...

https://news.usni.org/2022/06/22/gao-report-on-hypersonic-missile-defense

Russian Hypersonic Missiles Underperforming in Ukraine Conflict, NORTHCOM Says

A Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ALBM being carried by a Mikoyan MiG-31K in 2018. Kremlin Photo

The Kremlin’s most advanced missile systems are not operating effectively in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, U.S. Northern Command chief Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck said Wednesday before the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee.

The Russians have “had challenges with some of their hypersonic missiles as far as accuracy.” He judged the missiles were “underperforming.”

Despite Russia’s overall...

https://news.usni.org/2022/05/19/russian-hypersonic-missiles-underperforming-in-ukraine-conflict-northcom-says

Latest Zumwalt Hypersonic Missile Installation Plan Calls For Removing Gun Mounts

USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) returns to its homeport at Naval Base San Diego after a scheduled underway, Dec. 9, 2021. US Navy Photo

The most recent plan for adding hypersonic weapons to the Zumwalt-class guided-missile will involve removing the two massive 155 mm Advanced Gun Systems aboard the trio of destroyers, the Zumwalt program manager told USNI News on Wednesday.

In October of next year, USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is expected to enter a maintenance availability that will include the removal of the...

https://news.usni.org/2022/03/16/latest-zumwalt-hypersonic-missile-installation-plan-calls-for-removing-gun-mounts

Navy Will Install Hypersonic Missiles Aboard Zumwalt Destroyers Without Removing Gun Mounts

Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) gets underway in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 21, 2022. US Navy Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — There’s enough space and weight margin aboard the Zumwalt-class destroyers to install two tubes for hypersonic missiles without removing the ship’s 155mm gun mounts, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday told USNI News last month.

By 2025, the first 16,000-ton Zumwalt-class destroyer will have at least two sets of missile tubes...

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