US Navy Two Years Behind Schedule on Hypersonic Missile Installation for Zumwalt Destroyers
The U.S. Navy's effort to equip three Zumwalt-class destroyers with hypersonic missiles is two years behind schedule, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) missile program faces rising costs, with estimates ballooning from $31 billion for 262 missiles to $41 billion for 224 missiles. Flight testing has been pushed from 2025 to 2027. The GAO also highlighted reliability issues with the Zumwalt-class ships, including power system problems and difficulty obtaining spare parts. Production challenges at Lockheed Martin include heat-resistant coating issues, substandard parts, and insufficient factory capacity (6-7 missiles per year vs. 12 desired). Additionally, the Navy and Army are not adequately coordinating on the joint program, with the Army using its own consultant for production studies. Worker training is also a concern, as complex engineering specifications are given to recent high school or vocational school graduates.
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