USS Zumwalt departs its home port for installation of hypersonic missiles.

According to information published by the US DoD on August 1, 2023, the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) embarked from San Diego on August 1, en route to Pascagoula, Mississippi, which will become its new homeport.
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The guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), navigates through the Pacific Ocean. (Picture source: US DoD)

The decision to retrofit Zumwalt-class ships is a crucial aspect of a comprehensive modernization strategy that includes several technological advancements, most notably the integration of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) weapons system.

The CPS weapon system, a hypersonic boost-glide missile, signifies a game-changing addition to the U.S. naval arsenal. The inaugural installation is set for the first DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer, with plans to deploy the CPS across diverse platforms within the U.S. Navy. The introduction of the CPS marks the onset of a new epoch, granting the U.S. its inaugural conventional sea-based hypersonic strike capability.

The suggestion to upgrade the Zumwalt-class ships emerged during the Navy's 2022 budget request. To actualize this objective, the U.S. Navy has petitioned Congress for a $1.4 billion allocation in 2022.

Despite its innovative design and sophisticated weaponry, the Zumwalt has sparked significant controversy. The initial plan proposed the construction of 32 of these advanced destroyers.

However, due to a series of issues and escalating costs, only three were ultimately constructed: the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), and the USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002). The combined production cost of these three ships exceeded twelve billion dollars, with the total program cost soaring over 22 billion dollars.

With the installation of hypersonic missiles, the Zumwalt-class ships might transition from a role as sea-based artillery to a pivotal element in the U.S. Navy's long-range strategic arsenal.