The USS Zumwalt, America's most advanced destroyer, has arrived at the shipyard for installation of the Conventional Prompt Strike non-nuclear hypersonic weapon

USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is the US Navy's first Zumwalt-class destroyer. It arrived at Ingalls Shipbuilding late last week to be fitted with hypersonic missiles.

Here's What We Know

In early 2023, it was revealed that Lockheed Martin was awarded $1.2bn to deliver and integrate the Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic weapon. The US Navy plans to begin testing next year and the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) will be equipped with hypersonic missiles in 2025.

Conventional Prompt Strike requires larger launchers than the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System. The missile uses the same airframe as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, which Lockheed Martin is developing for the US Army.

USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) has arrived at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi. The US Navy said the modernisation process will allow the destroyer to remain one of the most technologically advanced ships in the service's inventory.

The warship will receive four missile launchers, each carrying three C-HGB (Common-Hypersonic Glide Body) hypersonic warhead missiles. In the future, the US Navy intends to equip two more Zumwalt-class destroyers - Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) and Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) - with hypersonic weapons. Johnson (DDG 1002).

Source: USNI