Monday, July 1, 2019

U.S. Navy Gets Ready For Hypersonic Weapons

Sailors remove an expended canister from the destroyer’s vertical launch system on board the destroyer Benfold. The Navy may swap out launchers on its DDGs to accommodate hypersonic missiles. (MC3 Jason Amadi/U.S. Navy)

Defense News: US Navy eyes new launchers on destroyers for hypersonic weapons

WASHINGTON — With bigger, faster missiles in development and bound for the fleet, the U.S. Navy’s engineers are considering installing upgraded launchers on the stalwart Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The head of Naval Sea Systems Command, Vice Adm. Thomas Moore, told an audience at a conference of naval engineers that the Arleigh Burkes — due to their vertical launch system and Aegis missile capabilities — were easier to keep relevant than other destroyers such as the Adams and Spruance classes. Still, with the service attempting to keep the ships longer, new launchers may be in order to pace the threat from Russia and China, which have been developing their own hypersonic weapons.

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WNU Editor: It looks like hypersonic weapons are going to be deployed far sooner than what many have predicted.

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