Flash News: U.S. Navy Successfully Tests Hypersonic Missile for Future Deployment on Zumwalt-Class Vessel.

The U.S. Department of Defense has achieved a significant milestone in its pursuit of next-generation strike capabilities with the successful flight test of a hypersonic missile launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on May 2, 2025. This launch marked the first use of the U.S. Navy’s innovative cold-gas launch approach for the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) weapon system, a technology specifically developed for integration with U.S. Navy sea-based platforms.
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The U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs conducts a cold-gas launch of a conventional hypersonic missile at Cape Canaveral, Florida, advancing preparations for naval deployment. This test supports the U.S. Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike program and contributes to the joint development and production of the common hypersonic missile in partnership with the U.S. Army. (Picture source: U.S. DoD with editing Army Recognition Group)

The Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) is a high-priority U.S. defense program aimed at delivering a non-nuclear, precision strike capability capable of hitting high-value, time-sensitive targets anywhere in the world within minutes. The system is centered around a hypersonic glide vehicle that can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, maneuver in flight, and evade advanced enemy air defenses. CPS is designed to complement the U.S. strategic arsenal by providing a rapid, flexible response option without escalating to nuclear conflict. It incorporates a common hypersonic missile that will be deployed by both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, utilizing shared technology including the All Up Round (AUR) and the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB). While the U.S. Army will employ CPS with ground-launched platforms, the U.S. Navy is developing the capability for surface combatants, beginning with the USS Zumwalt destroyer.

At the core of the CPS weapon system is the hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), a cutting-edge technology that enables a missile to reach hypersonic speeds—above Mach 5—after being launched by a rocket booster. Once released from the booster, the glide vehicle reenters the atmosphere and glides toward its target at extreme speed, while also being capable of adjusting its trajectory in flight. This maneuverability allows the HGV to evade traditional missile defenses, making it a formidable tool for precision strikes against heavily defended or mobile targets. The combination of speed, altitude, and agility makes hypersonic glide vehicles particularly difficult to track and intercept, providing a decisive advantage in modern warfare scenarios.

This test represents the culmination of years of development between the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) and the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. The cold-gas ejection technique is a groundbreaking advancement in naval missile technology, enabling the missile to be safely expelled from the launch platform and gain altitude before its booster ignites. This method significantly reduces the risk to the ship and crew, enhancing operational safety without compromising the weapon's performance.

The cold-gas approach used in this test allows the U.S. Navy to expel the missile from the platform and achieve a safe distance above the ship before the first-stage ignition occurs. This technical innovation is a vital step toward the U.S. Navy’s objective of deploying a secure and reliable hypersonic capability at sea. The successful implementation of this method marks a foundational moment for the integration of hypersonic weapons across a new generation of surface combatants.

The missile involved in the test is the common All Up Round (AUR), which incorporates the hypersonic glide vehicle and is designed for use by both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. The AUR offers enhanced precision, survivability, and long-range strike capability. Its shared development reflects a strategic effort to streamline hypersonic capabilities across service branches while maximizing operational flexibility and cost-efficiency.

Deployment of the CPS aboard the USS Zumwalt guided missile destroyer is particularly significant. The USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is a futuristic guided missile destroyer designed to support a wide range of missions, including land attack, anti-aircraft warfare, and surface warfare. Noted for its advanced stealth features, electric propulsion system, and modular weapons architecture, Zumwalt is uniquely suited for integrating cutting-edge technologies such as hypersonic missiles. Its spacious vertical launch system and modern command infrastructure make it an ideal testbed and eventual frontline platform for the CPS system, setting the stage for the future of naval warfare.

Conventional Prompt Strike is a key component of the U.S. Department of Defense’s strategy to modernize conventional long-range strike forces. By leveraging cutting-edge hypersonic technology, CPS will allow the U.S. military to conduct conventional global strikes within minutes. The system is built around a hypersonic glide vehicle that travels at extreme speeds and can maneuver during flight, making it highly survivable against enemy air defenses and capable of penetrating contested airspace.

The program is being developed in close coordination with the U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon initiative, sharing core technologies such as the common glide body and launch architecture to ensure efficiency and interoperability. While the U.S. Army will deploy the weapon from mobile ground launchers, the U.S. Navy will field it aboard its advanced surface fleet, beginning with the USS Zumwalt.

The test further confirms the strategic importance of the CPS program as part of the United States’ integrated deterrence strategy. With its unmatched speed, reach, and survivability, the Conventional Prompt Strike capability is expected to transform the way the U.S. armed forces conduct precision strikes and maintain military superiority.

As part of the U.S. Navy's pathway to operational deployment, the USS Zumwalt guided missile destroyer has been designated as the first vessel to be equipped with CPS. Extensive preparations and a series of trials have already been conducted using air-based launch test facilities, simulating launch conditions and collecting performance data. Insights gained from this most recent flight test will directly inform the final stages of missile integration and readiness for deployment aboard naval platforms.

This sea-based hypersonic strike system's rapid development and demonstration are critical to maintaining the United States’ competitive edge. Hypersonic missiles like the AUR offer a quantum leap in conventional strike capabilities, capable of outpacing adversary defenses and ensuring rapid, accurate, and lethal response in high-stakes scenarios. The CPS program strengthens current operational capabilities and reinforces the U.S. position as a global leader in hypersonic weapon development.

The success of this latest test flight from Cape Canaveral signals a new era in military technology that underscores the United States' commitment to fielding advanced weapon systems that meet the demands of 21st-century warfare. With Conventional Prompt Strike moving closer to operational deployment, the U.S. Navy and Army are preparing to revolutionize long-range precision warfare across all domains.