How is the futuristic (and expensive) warship whose ammunition the US naval force can not pay

© Getty Images USS Zumwalt

It is called USS Zumwalt and is the new jewel of the American Navy. 

In fact, it is the most expensive war ship ever built by the US naval force: cost more than US $ 4,000 million.

Its nautical engineering system is so advanced that it can shoot targets more than 128 kilometers away.

And it is designed for the radars to register as a simple fishing boat, thanks to its angular shape.

" It is simply gigantic once begins to approach , " he told the AP agency Lawrence Pye, a lobsterman whose radar saw a fishing boat just 12 to 15 meters long.

© Getty Images USS Zumwalt

However, the vessel of 14,500 tons measured no less than 185 meters long.

Getty Images USS Zumwalt It is the jewel of the US Navy, but the price of its ammunition is as exorbitant as its size. 1

Its development began in the 1990s and is the first of a "new generation of warships that must conform to the current world political scene," its maker, Bath Iron Works, said on its website.

But it has a small (or rather, big) drawback: each of its missiles cost more than US $ 800,000.

And now the Pentagon is thinking that perhaps this weapon, however advanced, is too costly.

© Getty Images USS Zumwalt

Of these, the USS Zumwalt is the only fully equipped. That, for lack of ammunition.

Price exorbitant

© Getty Images USS Zumwalt

This October, during a presentation ceremony in Baltimore, USA, Admiral Harry Harris, chief United States Pacific Command, described the warship as Batman would ship.

Harris was probably referring to his innovative technology and huge size.

But the truth is that the price of ship ammunition is exorbitant.

But why are they so expensive?

First, it is "ground attack missiles long range" (LRLAP, for its acronym in English).

The ship would be the first to have this technology. Specifically, with two of these weapons, designed by Lockheed Martin.

In addition, these powerful projectiles have a guided using GPS technology system.

Looking for alternatives

"We were going to buy thousands of rounds of bullets , " he said Sunday to Defense News an official of the US naval force.

Fully stocked, the vessel can carry up to 600 rounds of LRLAP ammunition.

But, according to official statements, its high price management stopped.

Getty Images USS Zumwalt It is still unclear what will happen with the USS Zumwalt ammunition. 1

At first, Lockheed Martin estimated that the projectiles would cost about US $ 50,000 each.

But the current price of US $ 800,000 is approaching the million dollars per shot that cost the Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of conducting a nuclear war and traveling more than 1,600 kilometers.

© Getty Images USS Zumwalt

At the moment, the US Navy is "evaluating industry solutions projectile that potentially can be used as an alternative for LRLAP".

Although it is not the first time he changes plans.

The initial idea was to build 32 ships Zumwalt. The figure dropped to 24, then seven and finally only thre