The new hypersonic missiles will install into the Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor.

USS Zumwalt

All three Zumwalt-class destroyers are getting new and powerful hypersonic missiles.  Those missiles have a speed of Mach 5+. And they have a very long range, says the article in the Eurasian Times. The installation of those new hypersonic missiles means that the advanced 155mm. gun turrets are removed and replaced by hypersonic missile tubes. The details about that modification are in the article below this text. 

The world is waiting for new lightweight and portable super- and hypersonic systems. Military forces can install those hypersonic systems in vehicles like main battle tanks. Or they can even be man-portable. 

The new hypersonic systems can shoot dummy or intelligent ammunition. And they are the most powerful systems in the world. 

Hypersonic systems are not always missiles. They might be things like rail guns. And maybe the next stage in hypersonic weapons is the guided hypersonic ammunition for artillery. Railguns can accelerate artillery grenades to very high speed. And maybe, somebody already tests the scramjet-driven grenades or artillery shells that speed is over Mach 5. 

The railgun technology makes it possible to create a small-caliber, fast-sooting gun that can use against airborne and surface targets. The thing is that the railgun technology makes a standard iron-hearted .50 caliber bullet devastating if its speed rises over Mach 6. The same system can shoot guided ammunition like "intelligent bullets" to the targets. And the railgun systems can shoot even individual persons from extremely long ranges. 

These kinds of systems are the next-generation tools for the military. The railguns can accelerate even regular rifle bullets to a speed that is many times higher than Mach 1. The speed of famous GAU-8 "Avenger" ammunition is Mach 1,5. So if the speed of the bullet is Mach 3- or higher. That thing makes also rifle-caliber guns powerful against at least light armor. 

Nanotechnology, along with new and powerful power sources makes it possible to create lightweight and powerful magnetic systems. Those magnetic accelerators can install also to the silencers of regular rifles. And that thing increases the speed of the bullet very high. If that kind of bullet has a uranium core, that thing gives it the ability to destroy almost all kinds of targets. 

https://www.defensenews.com/miltech/2022/08/11/boeing-nammo-test-ramjet-155-artillery-weapon/

https://eurasiantimes.com/us-navy-hypersonic-missiles-three-zumwalt-destroyers/

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

Image:) https://eurasiantimes.com/us-navy-hypersonic-missiles-three-zumwalt-destroyers/

The BrahMos-2 missile requires some Russian parts.

"Artist's impression of a hypersonic missile launched from an Indian Navy destroyer. The missile would have a launch booster to get it up to the speed where the scramjet can take over". (Forbes.com/India Goes Hypersonic: New Missile Technology May Be Answer To China’s Navy)

Indian new hypersonic BrahMos missile uses similar components to the Zircon missile. BrahMos can reach a speed of Mach 9. The reason why there is a race for hypersonic missiles is that they are flying lower than regular ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) -missiles. But those hypersonic missiles are flying higher than regular aircraft. And that makes them hard targets for air defense.

There are two types of hypersonic missiles. Regular rockets that are using gliders. And the systems that are using scramjet engines. The fact is that those systems can be hit by using smooth trajectories. They can have nuclear or conventional warheads. But also the kinetic energy of the missile that flies speed of Mach 9 is enough for causing vital damage to even large targets. 

But there is the possibility that the hypersonic missiles are connected to ICBM. That means when the missile returns to the atmosphere the hypersonic scramjet-driven missile can start its engine. And that makes this missile more able to reach its target than regular cruise missiles. 

Those missiles are using high altitudes because their control levels are facing very high temperature and pressure stress. And thin air gives lower friction and helps to keep the temperature lower. There is also the possibility that a scramjet-driven carrier vehicle will make the ballistic jump out from the atmosphere and release the cargo or small shuttle to the orbiter. That shuttle will release at the maximum altitude, where it starts its rocket engines. 

The aerodynamic hypersonic technology is quite a new thing. That means there are some problems to change the course of those missiles. But the development work continues. And the first of those weapons are already entered into service. 

When we are thinking that Russians are delivering technology, that makes BrahMos possible we must ask what India gave to Russians. In the article below this text is mentioned that BrahMos-2 uses similar components to Zircon. But which part is made by Indians and which part is made by Russians is not mentioned straight. But there is a possibility, that the Russians made vital scramjet components for that missile. Without that component, hypersonic flight is not possible. 

The published data about BrahMos tells that it developed along with Zircon. Those missiles both use scramjet engines. And they can attack targets that are quite far away. The scramjet-driven missiles are pathfinders for the use of that technology. 

The developers can use the information that BrahMos and Zircon along with many other missiles and missile projects give in higher-scale projects like manned hypersonic aircraft and hypersonic drones. Those systems are more multi-use than some missiles. And they can be more deadly than people can even think.  But making reusable hypersonic aircraft is more difficult than people expect. The temperature and pressure stress causes damage to the body and control levels of the aircraft. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/09/08/india-goes-hypersonic-new-missile-technology-may-be-answer-to-chinas-navy/?sh=4be6074cd937

https://idrw.org/why-does-india-need-russian-zircon-tech-for-brahmos-2/

Image:) https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/09/08/india-goes-hypersonic-new-missile-technology-may-be-answer-to-chinas-navy/?sh=4be6074cd937