The Navy’s Zumwalt-class stealth Destroy is having its “Ride or Die” moment
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The Navy’s Zumwalt-class stealth Destroy is having its “Ride or Die” moment

U.S.S Zumwalt is currently undergoing a two-year modernization process to install the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile system. The CPS deployment will represent a step forward in offensive capabilities for Zumwalt— but the beleaguered class is unlikely to trigger enough to justify the expense of the platform.

What is the conventional Prompt Strike system?

According to CPS’s developer, Lockheed Martin, CPS is “a hypersonic boost-glide missile development and test program that provides longer range, shorter flight times and high survivability against enemy defenses.” That’s the company’s word for a weapon that flies exceptionally fast. Capable of exceeding Mach 5 speeds (or one mile per second), hypersonic weapons could offer the ability to deliver precision-guided conventional weapons on targets anywhere in the world, within just one hour. In theory, such capabilities offer rapid responses, similar to an intercontinental ballistic missile, with more flexible deployment options, i.e. Zumwalt-class destroyer.

The Zumwalt expected to be fully equipped with CPS sometime in 2025. The Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) $154.8 million to modernize Zumwalt with the CPS system. “The contract, scheduled to be completed in September 2025, will replace the original twin 155 mm Advanced Gun Systems on the destroyer with four 87-inch missile tubes,” USNI reported last year.

The CPS system’s four 87-inch tubes will each hold three Common Hypersonic Glide Bodies (C-HGB) hypersonic missiles, which are “part of the Pentagon’s conventional strategic weapons system that can hit any target on the planet with minimal warning.”

However, the deployment of C-HGB may be delayed – which in turn would delay the maintenance period for Zumwaltaccording to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). “If the hypersonic weapon is not ready for integration on DDG 1000 by the time of the aforementioned maintenance period, the Navy may need to extend the duration of the planned maintenance period or wait for the next planned period to incorporate the system on the ship,” the GAO reported.

Regardless of the CPS installation or the timing of the C-HGB deployment, Zumwalt are unlikely to be fully redeemed as a class.

Redeeming Zumwalt

The Zumwalt once heralded as the future of the US Navy, with plans for a 32-ship fleet. But budget overruns and performance problems led the Navy to abandon the project after procuring only three ships, relying instead on the destroyer Zumwalt was meant to replace, the Arleigh Burke.

Before the project was canceled, the Navy invested $24 billion in the Zumwalt. Making such a large investment profitable depends on mass producing the product. With only three Zumwalt’s produced, that means each ship cost $8 billion. It’s an expensive destroyer (think about it Nimitz-class aircraft carriers cost about $7 billion or $8 billion). Had production too Zumwalt continued as planned, costs per vessel would have dropped significantly. But with plug drawn, the price per vessel will remain high.

Installing CPS is unlikely to make Zumwalt’s value proposition worth the trouble.

About the author:

Harrison Cass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total articles on global affairs issues. A lawyer, pilot, guitarist and minor professional hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a trainee pilot but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

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