Summary and Key Points: The Navy is preparing to arm the three Zumwalt-class destroyers with Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic weapons, aiming for operational deployment in 2026.
-The concept pairs the Zumwalt’s low-observable design—described as appearing like a “small fishing boat” on radar—with a long-range hypersonic glide vehicle launched by a booster and then driven by high-speed descent through a maneuverable glide phase.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 8, 2016) The guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), left, the Navy’s most technologically advanced surface ship, is underway in formation with the littoral combat ship USS Independence (LCS 2) on the final leg of its three-month journey to its new homeport in San Diego. Upon arrival, Zumwalt will begin installation of its combat systems, testing and evaluation, and operation integration with the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ace Rheaume/Released)161208-N-SI773-0401
An artist rendering of the Zumwalt class destroyer DDG 1000, a new class of multi-mission U.S. Navy surface combatant ship designed to operate as part of a joint maritime fleet, assisting Marine strike forces ashore as well as performing littoral, air and sub-surface warfare.
(Dec. 7, 2015) The future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is underway for the first time conducting at-sea tests and trials in the Atlantic Ocean Dec. 7, 2015. The multimission ship will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces, and operate as an integral part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works/Released). Zumwalt-Class
(Oct. 15, 2016) The Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced warship, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), is moored to the pier during a commissioning ceremony at North Locust Point in Baltimore. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Laird/Released)
-The result is a fast, hard-to-track strike option intended to add new maritime tactics, increase survivability through surprise, and strengthen deterrence as China expands its own hypersonic inventory, including DF-17 and sea-launched variants.
USS Zumwalt Has a Message for China: Hypersonic Missiles Are Coming in 2026
Plans are moving forward for the stealthy USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) destroyer to soon arm hypersonic missiles. The projectiles will be able to strike targets from thousands of miles at five times the speed of sound, an attack option that could hold even the most advanced adversaries at risk.
This introduces new tactics, offensive attack options, and concepts of operation for U.S. maritime warfare.
The Navy’s plan to arm the three ships of the Zumwalt-class with hypersonic missiles emerged some years ago, and technological progress is now hinting at the tactical advantages associated with their future deployment. Launch tubes for the hypersonic weapons have been built, and testing continues as the service prepares to deploy operational weapons in 2026.
The warships will be armed with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) released from a weapon known as Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS)—a long-range precision missile designed for ultra-long-range, high-speed missile attack.
As an HGV weapon, the CPS will launch an aerodynamic, lethal projectile up to the boundary of the Earth’s atmosphere with a booster, and then enter a glide phase during which a lethal hypersonic projectile uses its speed of descent to glide into a target at hypersonic speed and destroy it.
Stealthy Zumwalt
U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command claims the stealthy, curved USS Zumwalt appears to enemy radar as a “small fishing boat.” The hull of the ship is smoothly curved to avoid sharp edges or protruding structures more likely to generate a radar return signal.
An ability to launch hypersonic missiles while so hidden is a significant tactical boon. It could introduce surprise while improving survivability, making the Zumwalt-class a more versatile threat. This small group of high-tech destroyers was initially envisioned for land-attack missions.
Hypersonic Glide Vehicles
The CPS is being developed as a collaborative effort that includes the U.S. Army initiative to build the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon—they will use a common glide body described as an “all up round” that integrates differently into each weapon to deploy a long-range, maneuverable projectile.
The munition’s maneuverability in flight makes it much more difficult to track and intercept than a standard ballistic missile, which follows a predictable parabola-like trajectory.
The pure speed of an HGV makes it quite difficult to target, because it transits from one radar aperture to another so quickly that radar defense systems are challenged to develop a continuous target track. Unlike an air-breathing scramjet, which uses sustained rocket propulsion to sustain hypersonic speed, an HGV uses the purse speed of its descent to strike targets.
HGVs have much longer range than scramjets. Combined with their maneuverability, this explains why the Navy envisions long-range strike and deterrence concepts for its CPS.
Most of the maneuvering of an HGV is programmed prior to or at launch, and many can use GPS or an inertial measurement system for guidance. U.S. developers of the LRHW and CPS are also already anticipating the next generation of hypersonic weapons attack and working on software designed to enable an HGV to hit “moving” targets.
Deter Chinese Hypersonics
The arrival of sea-launched hypersonic weapons could give deterrence a critical boost. At the very least it would help keep pace with the progress of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the realm of hypersonics. The PLA operates the DF-17 hypersonic weapon, and the sea-launched YJ-20 has been tested several times.
The Global Times last year reported that an air-launched YJ-21 variant of this weapon has been carried on an H-6 bomber. Added to this, China recently showed a group of hypersonic weapons during a parade that had not been seen publicly before.
China’s YJ-20 was shown, but the display also included a YJ-15, YJ-17, and YJ-19. The YJ-19 shows an air inlet that appears to support an air-breathing scramjet type of technology, yet much is unknown about the emerging ingredients of China’s hypersonic arsenal.
An artist rendering of the Zumwalt class destroyer DDG 1000, a new class of multi-mission U.S. Navy surface combatant ship designed to operate as part of a joint maritime fleet, assisting Marine strike forces ashore as well as performing littoral, air and sub-surface warfare.
Hypersonic Offense and Defense
Ship-launched hypersonic weapons in the future could be used for defensive purposes: to help stop, blunt, or slow an incoming salvo of ballistic and hypersonic weapons.
This is significant, given the worry that China might seek to exploit its advantage in hypersonic weapons development to create a hypersonic threat “bubble” within which opposing forces could not operate. Such a capability could support a surprise attack on Taiwan.
Should the U.S. Navy develop a comparable hypersonic attack capability, it could function as a deterrent against such an attack.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
