Summary and Key Points: The USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) has officially been reborn as the U.S. Navy’s first hypersonic strike platform, completing critical sea trials in January 2026.
-After a three-year modernization that stripped its failed 155mm guns, the stealth destroyer now carries the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system—a Mach 5+ weapon capable of hitting any global target in under an hour.
Zumwalt-Class Destroyer U.S. Navy.
-This $8 billion “stealth bomber of the seas” has pivoted from a littoral failure to a strategic deterrent, providing the U.S. military with a non-nuclear, intercontinental-range strike capability that even advanced Russian and Chinese defenses will struggle to intercept.
The Navy’s USS Zumwalt Just Became the World’s First Hypersonic Destroyer
The USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is back in business, and the U.S. Navy is likely ready for its redux.
The ship just completed builder’s sea trials at the Pascagoula shipyard in Mississippi. This was a major modernization effort because now the ship will be able to fire hypersonic missiles.
This will be the first integration of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) precision-guided weapon, which reportedly can reach anywhere in the world in 60 minutes.
It’s One Major Renovation Project for Zumwalt-Class
The USS Zumwalt is the lead ship of the Zumwalt-class destroyer group. It was sent to Pascagoula for a major modernization effort in 2023.
The vessel even had to be removed from the water and placed on shore for the extensive work. Employees removed the 155mm Advanced Gun Systems and replaced them with missile tubes.
Zumwalt-Class, the largest destroyer on Earth today.
“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,” said Brian Blanchette, Ingalls Shipbuilding president. “I’m very proud of the team effort and their critical role to advance the U.S. Navy’s first warship with hypersonic capabilities,” Naval News noted.
All Three Zumwalts Will Receive Hypersonic Missiles
Workers are not through with the Zumwalt-class. The USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) and the USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) will also receive the CPS system.
More Details About the Zumwalt-class
The Zumwalt-class vessels are designed to be more stealthy than other surface warships.
The propulsion system is electrically powered and features advanced technology. There is a wave-piercing tumblehome hull. The Zumwalts are also equipped with high-power combat control, deft sensors, and advanced communications systems.
The Zumwalt-class destroyers were originally designated as the DD-X program in 2001. They are 610 feet long with a beam of 81 feet.
Zumwalts displaces nearly 16,000 tons and can reach 30 knots.
(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)
Trail of Tears
However, the program has endured difficulties. The ships cost nearly $8 billion each, which is comparable to an aircraft carrier.
They were supposed to cost $1.4 billion per vessel. This caused a Nunn-McCurdy breach.
That’s when a major acquisition program has such unbearable cost overruns that program officers must report to Congress and face potential cancellation of the project. The Navy originally wanted to build 32 Zumwalts, and they had to settle for three.
The idea behind the Zumwalt-class was to attack coastal shore positions and to offer close air support from their guns.
The Guns That Couldn’t Fire for This Navy Warship
The Advanced Gun System, designed to fire 155mm shells accurately and rapidly, was particularly troubled.
Each shell ended up costing $1 million per shot. The engines were problematic, and the tumblehome hull does not lend itself to upgrades.
The stealthy features were nice to have, but at a high cost, the Navy found it difficult to justify the investment.
(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
The maritime branch decided to emphasize building the Arleigh Burke-class of destroyers, which were cheaper and more versatile with diverse mission sets.
The Navy also decided it wanted larger, better-armed ships to face powerful adversaries such as Russia and China, which were developing a wide array of anti-ship hypersonic missiles.
The hull and propulsion system of the Zumwalt-class was still seen as problematic.
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Conventional Prompt Strike Could Be the Answer
However, the inclusion of the CPS should help the Zumwalt-class become more relevant. These will be ultra-fast and accurate. The Zumwalt-class can stay back out of the range of enemy projectiles and fire the CPS to their heart’s content. Instead of having to depend on aircraft carriers and fighter jets for precision strike, the Zumwalt can deliver heavy firepower from beyond the combat radius of enemy weapons and airplanes.
Zumwalt-class destroyer. Image Credit: Raytheon.
The CPS is a hypersonic weapon capable of speeds above MACH 5. It will be able to maneuver in flight, making it difficult to shoot down.
How Does CPS Work?
“CPS uses a shared design called an all-up-round, meaning the missile is built as a single, integrated unit. It consists of a two-stage solid rocket booster and a hypersonic glide vehicle, known as the Common Hypersonic Glide Body. The rocket booster launches the weapon, giving it speed and altitude. Once that phase is complete, the glide body separates and flies toward its target at hypersonic speed, using onboard guidance and control surfaces to steer while enduring extreme heat,” according to the DefensePost.com.
Taking the Good with the Bad
I have mixed feelings about the Zumwalt-class. This is definitely the last gasp of a problematic program.
Could these ships be jinxed? Sailors are sometimes superstitious, and nobody wants to serve on an unlucky ship in combat.
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However, I’m willing to give the Zumwalt-class another chance if CPS works as advertised. The Zumwalt-class destroyers could be transformed into next-generation missile platforms that would be welcome to cruise with carrier strike groups.
SAN DIEGO (Dec. 8, 2016) The guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) arrives at its new homeport in San Diego. Zumwalt, the Navy’s most technologically advanced surface ship, will now begin installation of combat systems, testing and evaluation and operation integration with the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Emiline L. M. Senn/Released)
No Need for Boots on the Ground Thanks to Zumwalt-Class
Zumwalts, when paired with submarines, could also have a land-strike role and serve as a presidential asset, accompanying a guided-missile flotilla of submarines that could be rapidly called upon to punish targets during crises.
This would create a powerful set of ground strikes that would not require a deployment of soldiers or marines.
Let’s give the Zumwalts another chance. The Navy is in for a penny and in for a pound now.
There is no turning back, even though the amount invested in the ships has been considerable. CPS, if it lives up to its reputation, could be a difference maker in combat and give adversaries another U.S. capability to worry about.
The hypersonic weapons may just be enough to save the Zumwalts from cancellation and the scrap yard.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
Author of now over 3,000 articles on defense issues, Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
