This shift from the previous gun system, deemed too costly, aims to enhance the Zumwalt's strike capabilities from greater distances.

At a shipyard in Mississippi, the Zumwalt is undergoing modifications where missile tubes are replacing the expensive and unused twin gun turrets.

Hypersonic weapons, which travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and possess enhanced maneuverability, are difficult to intercept, making them a strategic asset.

Retired Rear Adm. Ray Spicer emphasized that hypersonic weapons allow for strikes from thousands of kilometers away, beyond the reach of most enemy defenses.

However, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that developing 300 hypersonic weapons could cost nearly $18 billion over 20 years, raising concerns about their cost-effectiveness.

Critics argue that the high cost of hypersonic missiles may not justify their benefits compared to cheaper alternatives.

Despite criticism, defense analysts note that the Navy is turning the Zumwalt's previous failures into a strategic advantage by converting it into a hypersonic platform.

The urgency for hypersonic weapons development has intensified in the U.S. due to recent advancements by Russia and China in this area.

The U.S. Navy is retrofitting the USS Zumwalt with missile tubes to create the first shipborne hypersonic weapon, transitioning from an unactivated gun system due to high costs.

The Zumwalt, which cost $7.5 billion, represents advanced naval technology, featuring electric propulsion and stealth capabilities.

The Zumwalt will utilize the 'Conventional Prompt Strike' system, which can launch a hypersonic glide vehicle traveling at speeds of seven to eight times the speed of sound, with each ship capable of carrying 12 hypersonic missiles.

Following successful hypersonic weapon tests in the summer of 2023, the Navy plans to begin testing the hypersonic system aboard the Zumwalt by 2027 or 2028.