One procurement criticism is that the Zumwalt class should have allowed later installation of railguns and hypersonic weapons instead of promising immature systems at entry into service. The criticism links premature implementation to the pursuit of a technological 'wow factor' and also cites the Littoral Combat Ship program. Railgun development is described as continuing to improve technically. The assessment is that the Zumwalt experience nevertheless set railguns back politically by about 25 to 30 years. That distinction separates a weapon's engineering prospects from the public reputation affecting its adoption.
Chapter · 51:48-53:29
Zumwalt and the political reputation of railguns
A procurement critique favors capacity for later weapon installation and argues that the Zumwalt experience damaged railguns' reputation despite continuing technical progress.