The U.S. Navy advances its Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile program, focusing on a cold-gas launch system and potential deployment aboard Zumwalt-class destroyers amid concerns over cost and effectiveness.
The United States military has increased its efforts to counter the threat from hypersonic missiles, but the Pentagon also remains committed to the weapons’ development. Last month, even as the United States Navy canceled its HALO hypersonic missile program, it tested its Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) conventional hypersonic missile from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
The service appears to be more focused on which hypersonic weapon programs will move forward, while others will be “deep-sixed.” The CPS, previously known as the Prompt Global Strike (PGS), is now under development with the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) in partnership with the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO).
The efforts seek to field a “cold-gas launch approach” that could strike anywhere in the world within an hour, enabling the United States to respond far more quickly than is currently possible with conventional forces.
“The speed, range, and survivability of hypersonic weapons are key to integrated deterrence for America,” said Secretary of the Navy John Phelan in a statement. “When fielded, Conventional Prompt Strike will deliver unmatched capabilities to our warfighters.”
Hypersonic Missiles Are Ready for Deployment
The recent flight test was the next step in evaluating the All Up Round (AUR), a complete, assembled missile system ready for deployment. It will include a two-stage solid rocket booster with a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) that can carry a kinetic energy warhead. The U.S. Navy’s CPS program and the U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) share a common AUR.
“Utilizing an In-Air Launch test facility, the Program conducted an extensive test campaign to validate the launch approach before the completion of this flight test,” the Navy announced.
“Information gathered from this test will inform the continued development and production of the AUR and the first use of this cold-gas launch approach on a surface ship platform.”
Two end-to-end flight tests of the AUR were carried out last year.
“The cold-gas approach allows the Navy to eject the missile from the platform and achieve a safe distance above the ship before first-stage ignition. This technical achievement brings SSP one step closer to fulfilling our role of providing our Navy a safe and reliable hypersonic capability,” explained Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr, SSP director.
Hypersonic Missiles Onboard the Zumwalt Class Destroyers
The CPS program could be crucial to correcting the mistake that is the U.S. Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers, the three “cutting-edge” warships that have been a proverbial hole in the water in which money has been thrown with little to show for it. The warships have been undergoing modifications to replace their original 155mm Advanced Gun Systems with hypersonic missile launchers.
Hypersonic weapons, which can reach speeds exceeding Mach 5 and maneuver in flight, have been considered extremely difficult to counter. Their unpredictable flight patterns allow for the missiles to evade radar detection, which could reduce the warning times.
Yet critics of hypersonic weapons have argued that the systems have largely failed to deliver as promised, and Ukraine has succeeded in countering Russia’s much-touted Kh-47 M2 Kinzhal with an American-made MIM-104 Patriot air-defense system. Moreover, the high cost of the hypersonic missiles, which can cost $10 million or more, may simply be too high.
However, the U.S. knows it can’t afford to lose the hypersonic race. It could result in another costly weapon that it hopes it won’t have to use in combat.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Spc. Chandler Coats, U.S. Army.
