The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.35-billion contract modification to advance the production and integration of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapon system aboard the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000). The contract includes program management, engineering, system integration, procurement of long-lead materials, and testing. The Zumwalt-class platform has undergone significant structural modifications, replacing its legacy 155mm Advanced Gun Systems with four large missile tubes designed to house Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) payloads. Each tube accommodates multiple missiles, enabling non-nuclear strikes at ranges exceeding 2,700 kilometers. This transformation shifts the vessel’s role from littoral operations to strategic long-range strike missions. The CPS program is expected to expand across additional platforms, including other Zumwalt-class destroyers and Virginia-class submarines, strengthening the Navy’s deep-strike capability.
