Summary and Key Points: The U.S. Navy has begun a critical modernization of its Zumwalt-class destroyers, replacing the ships’ failed Advanced Gun Systems with large missile tubes capable of firing Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapons.
-Currently underway at Ingalls Shipbuilding, this refit aims to transform the “troubled” coastal support ships into premier long-range strike platforms capable of hitting targets over 1,700 miles away at speeds exceeding Mach 5.
SAN DIEGO (Dec. 7, 2018) The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) arrives in homeport of San Diego. The future USS Michael Monsoor is the second ship in the Zumwalt-class of guided- missile destroyers and will undergo a combat availability and test period. The ship is scheduled to be commissioned into the U.S. Navy Jan 26, 2019 in Coronado, Cailf. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Nicholas Huynh/Released) 181207-N-IW125-1021
(Dec. 9, 2018) Following a multi-day process that includes moving the ship from the land level facility to the dry dock, the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) is made ready before flooding of the dry dock at General Dynamic-Bath Iron Works shipyard, and subsequent launching of the third Zumwalt-class destroyer. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works/Released)
Zumwalt-class. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
By integrating these non-nuclear, boost-glide missiles, the Navy hopes to salvage the $8 billion warships and provide a vital deterrent in potential conflicts in the Pacific theater by 2026.
-The US Navy’s troubled Zumwalt-class destroyers are getting a much-needed boost with the integration of Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missiles.
USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) took to sea for the first time since 2023 after the installation of large missile tubes capable of fielding hypersonic strike weapons was emplaced in the HII shipyard in Pascagoula, MS.
The Lyndon B. Johnson, second in class, is undergoing modifications to fire hypersonic missiles, promising global reach and offensive power.
Currently, Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Mississippi shipyard, is installing vertical hypersonic missile tubes on the Zumwalt-class destroyers, replacing twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated due to the high cost of the ammunition.
“We have achieved a pivotal milestone with our Navy and industry partners to advance this complex modernization work that will set a precedent for the Zumwalt class,” Brian Blanchette, Ingalls Shipbuilding president, said in a statement. “I’m very proud of the team effort and their critical role to advance the U.S. Navy’s first warship with hypersonic capabilities.”
The U.S. Navy is refitting its three Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers with Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missiles to provide a long-range, rapid-strike capability by 2026. These weapons, capable of traveling over Mach 5, will replace the ships’ main gun systems, with each vessel expected to carry up to 12 missiles.
What Is The Conventional Prompt Strike Weapon System?
The Zumwalt class will employ the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system, a hypersonic boost-glide weapon capable of traveling over 1,700 miles.
CPS pairs advanced hypersonic missiles with submarines and surface ships to hit high-value targets anywhere in the world within minutes instead of hours.
CPS is a new class of non-nuclear, ultra-fast strike capability that can penetrate modern defenses and respond to emerging threats almost instantly.
Lockheed Martin is developing the CPS system for the Navy, the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) for the Army, and the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) air-to-ground missile for the Air Force.
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 glide body is the same across the different missiles, which helps reduce costs, speed development, and ensure future upgrades are simplified.
Following the Zumwalts, the next vessels to carry CPS rounds will be the Block V Virginia-class submarines, with missile storage enabled by the addition of 4 extra missile silos in the Virginia Payload Module (VPM).
The Navy is removing the two 155mm Advanced Gun Systems (AGS) on each ship and replacing them with four large Advanced Payload Module (APM) tubes, with each tube capable of housing three missiles.
The USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is undergoing a refit, with testing expected to continue this year. The goal is to have all three ships in the class (including Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B. Johnson) upgraded.
This could transform the Zumwalt class from a troubled coastal support ship into a premier, stealthy, long-range strike platform, particularly critical for potential Pacific theater conflicts.
The missiles are designed to be non-nuclear, relying on extreme speed (over a mile per second) and maneuverability to strike targets, which makes them highly accurate but technically challenging to develop.
The Zumwalt destroyers are the first U.S. surface combatants to carry these weapons, with the capability expected to be fully integrated across the class to provide a significant, non-nuclear strategic, high-speed strike option.
Will It Be Enough To Save The Zumwalt-class?
The integration of hypersonic missiles on the Zumwalt-class destroyer is indeed a significant step that could potentially “save” the program by revitalizing its purpose and enhancing its relevance in a possible future conflict with China.
Initially designed with advanced features like stealth and electric propulsion, the Zumwalt class faced challenges, particularly with its expensive gun system.
The Navy had planned to order 32 Zumwalt destroyers, but now there are only three on active duty.
The two Advanced Gun Systems have failed, and schedule slips and cost overruns have plagued the program. The CPS missiles increase the range of the Zumwalt-class from 63 miles with the Advanced Gun System to 1,725 miles.
The Zumwalt-class ships cost the Navy around $8 billion each, and it is unclear whether the fitting of hypersonic missiles on the destroyers will lead to increased procurement.
Navy Captain Clint Lawler, program manager of the DDG 1000 destroyer program, said, “The plan is to get the ship available this year and then to support [initial operational capability] when the testing schedule supports that.
“We removed both guns from the ship. We’ve recovered some of the space under the second gun system for spaces that were previously used under the forward gun mount,” Lawler added. “We’ve essentially recaptured some of that space. Other space is a reservation for future capability.”
The Zumwalt Class Can (Finally) Be A Powerful Strike Platform
Adding hypersonic missiles, specifically the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system, however, transforms the Zumwalt into a powerful strike platform, capable of delivering long-range, high-speed attacks. This makes it a much more valuable and versatile platform in the event of war.
Hypersonic missiles, capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5, offer a critical standoff strike capability against a wide range of targets, including those previously requiring naval gunfire support.
Each Zumwalt-class destroyer would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three missiles, for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship.
The Zumwalt’s stealthy design, advanced radar, and electric propulsion system, while not initially fully utilized, would now become valuable assets when paired with the hypersonic missile capability.
“I refer to all the ships that get hypersonics as the Larry Bird ships of the Navy,” Jerry Hendrix, a retired Navy captain and former Pentagon staff member who is now a senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute, said, referring to the legendary three-point shooter who played for the Boston Celtics.
“These ships, because of the ranges associated with hypersonics, will be able to do that pinpoint accuracy from way outside the shooting range for the rest of the fleet.”
Because the Zumwalts are designed with a low-radar cross-section, they’ll be able to operate “much more comfortably” in regions where adversaries are practicing area-denial strategies that might keep other platforms at bay, Hendrix added.
Adding the CPS hypersonic missile upgrade transforms the Zumwalt from a potentially obsolete warship into a potent and relevant platform, capable of projecting power and deterring potential adversaries of the United States in the 21st century.
However, with only three ships in the class and no plans to build more, this move, while important, may only serve to introduce hypersonics to more classes of Navy surface ships.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
