US Navy Chief Of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday said earlier this year to USNI News that he intends to add hypersonic rockets to the Zumwalt destroyer type. According to Gilday, this is the fundamental plan for the near future. The Navy is still deciding how to use the 155mm Anti-Submarine Gun System (ASGS) that are currently installed on the Zumwalt ships.
Zumwalt was designed originally to provide antiaircraft, antisurface and naval surface fire support for ground forces. This program was part of the 21st Century Destroyer Program. It began in 1991. The program had the goal of creating a ship which could not be detected on radar. Instead, the ships would operate in darkness. The Zumwalts’ performance hasn't met the original cost estimate. For each ship, the cost is estimated to be around $3.3 billion.
Zumwalt's destroyer ship class is large and powerful. It is intended to be a multi-mission stealth attack ship. The deckhouse is made of lightweight, rugged composites. The ship has a low radar crossing-section and a lower acoustic signature. Additionally, the ship has a Total Ship Computing Environment Infrastructure. This system allows integration of navigation, radar, communications, firefighting and damage control. It also provides surface search capabilities. An integrated multi-function mast is included on the ship.
Zumwalt-class destroyers use the MK57 Vertical Launching System. This system allows the installation a wide range of antiaircraft and antisubmarine missiles. Modularity is a key feature of this system's electronic architecture. This makes it easy to change launcher control software as needed for each new missile.
Advanced Gun System is also available for Zumwalt class destroyers. This system has been designed to increase the rate of fire, fire projectiles faster, and reduce operational crew heads. It will also triple the coverage of naval surface flames. The battery will be able fire rocket-assisted Long-Range Land Attack Projectiles with precision strikes.
Zumwalt's destroyer class has a drastically reduced radar cross section. The ship's radar cross-section is reduced, and it can also operate with a lower acoustic signature.
Advanced automated damage-control systems allow the ship to perform automatic firefighting and damage control. This system also features integrated S-band and X-band radar capabilities. The system can automatically detect and search for surfaces, providing surface search capabilities. Zumwalt AFSS reduces the number of crew members needed for damage control.
It is expected that the ship will be equipped with two sets hypersonic missile tubes. The Hypersonic Cruise Missile Tubs (HCMTs), can travel at four times the speed sound. These tubes can be easily installed without extensive deck replacement.
Zumwalt's destroyers of the Zumwalt Class also have an enormous electrical capacity that is expected to make it possible to install future laser guns. The ship's large electrical capacity is expected to enable the use a number of electromagnetic railguns. These guns shoot projectiles using no gunpowder.