US Navy conducts first hypersonic cold-gas launch

Shown here before being modified for hypersonic missiles, USS Zumwalt is set to be the first US Navy sea-based platform for the weapons. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

The US Navy (USN) conducted the first launch of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) capability utilising the navy's cold-gas launch approach that will be used in the service's sea-based platform fielding, the Pentagon confirmed on 2 May.

The USN is now preparing guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) to be the first sea-based platform for the weapon.

“The cold-gas approach allows the navy to eject the missile from the platform and achieve a safe distance above the ship prior to first stage ignition,” said Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, director of Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), said in the 2 May Pentagon statement. USN SSP is the lead designer of the common hypersonic missile.

An end-to-end flight test of a conventional hypersonic missile from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, followed the launch, according to the Pentagon statement.

“This test informs the navy fielding approach for the Conventional Prompt Strike offensive hypersonic capability, as well as the continued development and production of the common hypersonic missile that is being developed in partnership with the US Army,” the Pentagon said.

The recent test was the next step in the navy's flight-testing programme of the common All-Up Round (AUR) that is being developed in partnership with the army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, the Pentagon said, noting that in 2024 the programmes completed two additional end-to-end flight tests of the AUR that will be fielded to both the navy and army.

For more information on recent hypersonics defence testing, please seeUS Navy, MDA intercept simulated hypersonic threat .