Lockheed Martin to Put Hypersonic Missiles on Zumwalt Destroyers

Lockheed Martin Corp has been awarded a U.S. Navy contract potentially worth up to $2 billion to install hypersonic missile systems onto the Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers.

Under the contract, Lockheed will integrate its Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) weapon system and also provide launcher systems, weapon control, integrated missile components, and platform integration support. 

CPS is a hypersonic boost-glide weapon system that fires long-range, highly maneuverable missiles that can travel at speeds of more than Mach 5, or five-times the speed of sound, and can be fired from surface ships, submarines, and land-based mobile launchers.

Lockheed said the initial value of the contract is $1.1 billion, but it could grow to more than $2 billion if all options are exercised.

“The combination of the CPS capability, and the stealth and mobility of the Zumwalt-class destroyer, will provide the nation’s first sea-based hypersonic strike capability,” the company said in a statement, adding that it expects the systems to be ready by the mid-2020s.

The Zumwalt-class are the U.S. Navy’s next-generation of stealth guided missile destroyers. The class is comprised of the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) and USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), as well as a third destroyer, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002), which is anticipated for delivery to the Navy in 2024.

“Lockheed Martin continues to advance hypersonic strike capability for the United States through this new contract,” said Steve Layne, vice president of Hypersonic Strike Weapon Systems at Lockheed Martin. “Early design work is already underway. Our team looks forward to supporting the warfighter by providing more options to further protect America at sea.”