US Boosts Hypersonic Missile Program for Zumwalt Destroyers

The U.S. Navy is advancing its sea-based hypersonic strike capability with a new $1.356 billion contract awarded to Lockheed Martin Space on March 31. This funding marks a critical step towards deploying hypersonic weapons on the Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers.

Funding Signals Shift Towards Deployment

The contract modification will support essential engineering work, system integration, tooling, and procurement of long-lead items. This indicates a clear transition for the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program, moving beyond testing and validation towards real-world deployment and long-term sustainment.

If the program remains within budget, it is projected to add approximately $452 million to the cost of each of the three Zumwalt-class destroyers, bringing the total cost per ship to around $9.5 billion. The Zumwalt program has historically faced criticism due to escalating costs and technical difficulties.

USS Zumwalt Undergoes Major Redesign

The lead ship, USS Zumwalt, recently completed a significant milestone. In mid-January, it successfully conducted sea trials after being reconfigured to accommodate hypersonic weapons. This followed an extensive refit that began in August 2023.

During the refit, the ship’s two 155 mm Advanced Gun System turrets were removed and replaced with 12 launch tubes designed for the Conventional Prompt Strike missiles. Prior to this, the USS Zumwalt completed a three-month operational deployment with the Pacific Fleet in November 2022.

Global Race to Arm Destroyers

The integration of ballistic and hypersonic missiles onto surface warships is a growing trend globally. North Korea is rapidly producing Choi Hyon-class destroyers equipped for this purpose. China has also made substantial progress, testing YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles from its Type 055 destroyers, expected to be operational around 2026.

Recent conflicts, including the use of Russia’s Oreshnnik ballistic missile with hypersonic glide vehicles in Ukraine, and Iran’s Fattah 2 missiles, have underscored the increasing importance of these advanced weapons systems. These developments have put pressure on the U.S. to accelerate its own hypersonic programs.

How the CPS System Works

The Conventional Prompt Strike missile is based on the U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon program, utilizing the same propulsion rocket and Common Hypersonic Glide Body. After launch, the missile follows a ballistic trajectory before releasing a glide vehicle.

This glide vehicle then accelerates to hypersonic speeds – exceeding five times the speed of sound – while maneuvering towards its target. The CPS system combines the range of ballistic missiles with the precision of conventional warheads, enabling naval forces to strike distant targets quickly without resorting to nuclear weapons.

However, the missile’s flight path can mimic that of nuclear ballistic missiles, potentially triggering early warning systems in countries like China and Russia. This may necessitate advance notification of launches to prevent escalation, similar to Russia’s practice with the Oreshnnik system.

With this latest funding, the Pentagon is signaling that hypersonic weapons are no longer experimental and are becoming a core component of future naval warfare.