This work will make the giant destroyer USS Zumwalt the very first “American ship carrying hypersonic missiles”, as underlined the Sailor.
The Conventional Prompt Strike system
A US Navy ship, the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), has undergone modernization work. Indeed, according to a press release relayed on December 7 by Naval News and issued by HII, an American shipbuilder, the “destroyer” saw its two gun systems removed. The goal: to receive new missile tubes specific to the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system, a hypersonic weapon.
As Lockheed Martin defines it, “CPS is a hypersonic glide-propelled missile development and test program that offers longer range, shorter flight times.
“In partnership with the Navy, we are committed to completing this complex work that adds significant hypersonic capability to the Zumwalt. We are proud to support the integration of conventional rapid strike for the Navy,” said Chris Kastner, president and CEO of HII.
Hypersonic missiles at 9,880 km/h
It has been since August 2023 that the ship arrived at the Pascagoula shipyard, in Mississippi (United States). The goal was to administer technological upgrades, including this famous integration of the Conventional Prompt Strike weapon system. As Live Science relays, this missile is launched like a ballistic missile, but it is then propelled by a hypersonic glider.
Therefore, this missile will be able to travel at a maximum speed of approximately 9,880 km/h, or Mach 8. It is possible that they are too fast for detection systems to have time to react. Maneuverable, it is difficult to bring them down. All Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with them.
An arms project from the United States, China and Russia
As the press release recalls, the three Zumwalt class destroyers are already equipped with an anti-wave hull, an advanced electric propulsion system, a stealth design… they are therefore already capable of carrying out any a range of deterrence missions.
This ship is 185 meters long and approximately 24 meters wide. It was put into service in the 2010s, but suffered several failures, notably because its electromagnetic cannon never worked.
A missile is called “hypersonic” when it is capable of reaching speeds greater than Mach5. An alternative to nuclear war, but certainly a ready-made place for the war of the future. According to an article from France Info, these missiles are part of the arms project of the United States, but also of China and Russia.
