The U.S. Defense Department may deploy hypervelocity projectiles or HVPs to the field in the near future.
 
These super bullets are two-foot long shells that can travel at four times the speed of sound and hit targets with the impact of a freight train.
 
U.S. media outlet The National Interest reported on Monday that military authorities are speeding up the development of the next-generation weapon in a bid to counter threats from North Korea.
 
U.S. Defense Department spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Roger Cabiness told the magazine that the first prototypes were fired in February 2016 and since then dozens of additional test shots were completed.
 
When asked if the new shell may be in use on Navy vessels as early as 2019, he said the military services will determine the time of deployment following the conclusion of tests.

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