The U.S. Navy’s $8 billion USS Zumwalt stealth destroyer has finally departed port armed with 12 hypersonic missiles, transforming America’s most expensive naval failure into a game-changing weapon against China’s Pacific expansion.
Story Highlights
- USS Zumwalt becomes first Navy vessel armed with operational hypersonic missiles after $8 billion retrofit
- Destroyer carries 12 Conventional Prompt Strike missiles traveling faster than Mach 5, virtually impossible to intercept
- Strategic repositioning to Pearl Harbor by 2028 directly counters Chinese aggression in Indo-Pacific
- Program transforms from procurement disaster to cutting-edge deterrent after original gun system failure
From Billion-Dollar Failure to Strategic Asset
The USS Zumwalt recently departed port for sea trials, marking a dramatic turnaround for a warship program that epitomized defense procurement dysfunction. Originally designed around an Advanced Gun System that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per round, the destroyer class sailed for years without its primary weapon after the program was canceled. The Navy’s decision to retrofit the vessel with hypersonic weapons has salvaged billions in investment while creating America’s most advanced surface combatant.
Hypersonic Superiority Against Enemy Air Defenses
The Zumwalt now carries 12 Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missiles capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, making them nearly impossible for enemy forces to detect and intercept. These weapons provide deep-strike capability that can penetrate well beyond the range of hostile air defenses, filling a critical gap in America’s long-range arsenal. The retrofit completion is targeted for May 2026, with full operational employment expected by late 2026 or early 2027.
Strategic Deterrent Against Chinese Pacific Expansion
All three Zumwalt-class destroyers will be homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam by mid-2028, establishing the Navy’s first hypersonic-armed fleet in the Pacific. This forward deployment directly responds to China’s growing military presence in the region, signaling American technological superiority and enhanced deterrence capabilities. The move represents a complete strategic pivot from the original design intent of naval gunfire support to long-range strike platform operations.
However, retired Rear Admiral Joe Sestak warns that while nobody can defend against hypersonic missiles, just 12 per ship might not provide sufficient firepower to stop a major invasion. The procurement and maintenance costs are substantial, with estimates suggesting tens of billions of dollars over decades if fielded at scale.
Parallel Submarine Integration Expands Hypersonic Fleet
Two Virginia-class submarines, USS Arizona and USS Barb, will complement the Zumwalt destroyers by carrying Virginia Payload Modules with either 12 CPS hypersonic missiles or 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles each. Pearl Harbor is undergoing major infrastructure upgrades, including electrical system enhancements and drydock capacity expansion, to support the power requirements and maintenance demands of hypersonic-armed vessels. This comprehensive modernization will establish Pearl Harbor as the hub for America’s most advanced naval deterrent by 2030.
U.S. Navy Launches Futuristic $8 Billion Stealth Ship Out of Port with Hypersonic Weapons Canistershttps://t.co/9pxZITRd6q
— Harry Kazianis (@GrecianFormula) January 18, 2026
The Zumwalt transformation demonstrates how innovative thinking can salvage troubled programs while addressing emerging threats. Captain Clint Lawler, the program manager, confirmed the timeline at the Surface Navy Association Symposium, noting that these destroyers have the space and capacity to integrate next-generation weapons systems that traditional vessels cannot accommodate.
Sources:
U.S. Navy Launches Futuristic $8 Billion Stealth Ship Out of Port with Hypersonic Weapons
US Navy Launches $8 Billion USS Zumwalt Stealth Destroyer Hypersonic Weapon
USS Zumwalt to Put to Sea in 2026 Without Main Gun Systems
Pearl Harbor to House U.S. Navy’s First Hypersonic-Armed Fleet by 2030
World First Destroyer Intercontinental Range Missiles Zumwalt