---
title: "USS Zumwalt returns: how the 'carrier killer' became a hypersonic platform"
description: "The USS Zumwalt destroyer returns to service after a major modernization: instead of guns, the ship now carries launchers for CPS hypersonic missiles. 🚀 The ship, which for years was considered the 'white whale' of the US Navy, has finally received a new mission in the Indo-Pacific region. 🌏"
date: 2026-07-18T12:16:59.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/uss-zumwalt-returns-hypersonic-weaponry
tags: [uss-zumwalt, us-navy, hypersonic-missiles, cps-program, china-navy]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# USS Zumwalt returns: how the 'carrier killer' became a hypersonic platform

![USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) destroyer in harbor: futuristic warship transforming into a hypersonic missile platform](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/18/uss-zumwalt-vozvrashchenie-giperzvukovoe-oruzhie/uss-zumwalt-vozvrashchenie-giperzvukovoe-oruzhie-1.webp)

The USS Zumwalt destroyer, the world's first combat ship with a stealth hull, is completing the final stage of its modernization. After years of inactivity and searching for a combat purpose, the ship is preparing to return to the US Navy with a fundamentally new arsenal. The modernization has transformed it into a unique platform for hypersonic weapons, capable of striking targets at enormous distances.

### From artillery to hypersonics

The most radical change during the re-equipment was the complete dismantling of the two 155mm Advanced Gun System cannons. Initially, these guns were designed to fire high-precision long-range projectiles, but the ammunition development program was cancelled due to colossal costs. Without specialized shells, the guns lost their purpose, and their place on the deck was taken by four new launch modules.

These modules will be loaded with missiles from the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. A total of 12 hypersonic warheads can be accommodated on board. These vehicles can reach speeds of over Mach 5, making them practically invulnerable to modern air defense systems. Unlike Tomahawk cruise missiles, CPS missiles maneuver constantly during flight, making them difficult to intercept.

### A difficult path to combat

The history of the Zumwalt class is an example of one of the most complex shipbuilding projects in the history of the US Navy. Development, which began in 2011, stretched over more than 15 years. During this time, the project faced serious technical problems and multiple budget overruns. The cost of each ship exceeded $8 billion, making them the most expensive destroyers in the world.

The ship suffered from instability in its Integrated Power System, which was supposed to power prospective electromagnetic guns and lasers. There were also difficulties with the integration of software and combat systems. As a result, many ambitious features were cut or cancelled. For example, the SPY-4 search radar was never installed, leaving the ship with only the SPY-3 multifunction radar.

### Strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific region

The return of the USS Zumwalt to service has important strategic significance, especially in the context of tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. It is expected that CPS hypersonic missiles will become a key tool for striking strategic targets, such as command centers, missile bases, and enemy air defense nodes.

This step also serves as a testbed for trials before deploying similar weaponry on Virginia-class Block V submarines. At the same time, China is actively developing its hypersonic capabilities, equipping Type 055 and 052D destroyers with YJ-20 anti-ship missiles. Although Chinese missiles are smaller in size, they pose a serious threat to naval task forces.

Although the Zumwalt was originally conceived as a ship for fire support of amphibious landings, its fate turned out to be different. The reduction of the order from 32 to 3 units and the failure of the artillery program forced the US Navy to seek a new role for these high-tech ships. Now, armed with hypersonic weapons, the USS Zumwalt finally acquires a clear combat mission.