USS Zumwalt: The Stealth Destroyer That Appears as a Fishing Boat on Radar

• The USS Zumwalt is a stealth destroyer designed to appear like a small fishing boat on radar, making it difficult for enemies to detect.
• Its unique 'tumblehome' hull design and composite materials significantly reduce its radar cross-section and absorb radar waves.
• Initially equipped with 155mm Advanced Gun Systems, these were removed due to high shell costs and replaced with Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missiles by 2026.
• The ship boasts 80 Vertical Launch Cells for Tomahawk cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles, with power capacity for future laser and railgun weapons.
• Despite a total project cost of $22 billion for three ships, the Zumwalt class has not seen active combat but serves for deterrence and power projection, primarily in the Indo-Pacific.

Why It Matters: The USS Zumwalt is a high-tech, stealth destroyer with advanced weaponry, designed for deterrence despite its high cost.