The U.S. Navy has successfully completed an end-to-end test of its Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile, marking a milestone toward shipboard deployment. The test, conducted April 25 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, was the first to demonstrate the missile’s cold-gas launch capability.
The cold-gas system ejects the missile from the launch platform without igniting the first stage, allowing ignition to occur midair at a safe distance from the ship. The technology is intended for use aboard surface vessels, including the guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt, which will be the first Navy ship to carry the CPS system.
“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,” Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe Jr., director of Strategic Systems Programs, said. “This technical achievement brings SSP one step closer to fulfilling our role of providing a safe and reliable hypersonic capability to our Navy.”
The missile, known as the All-Up Round, is a joint development by the Navy and Army. The unified design is expected to accelerate fielding timelines and reduce development costs. Two previous All-Up Round tests were successfully conducted earlier this year.
The USS Zumwalt entered dry dock in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in August 2023 for CPS system upgrades. Engineering efforts at the Navy’s In-Air Launch test facility contributed to validating the safety and effectiveness of the cold-gas launch method.
Lockheed Martin is the lead contractor for the CPS weapon. The Pentagon has identified hypersonic weapons as a top modernization priority amid advancements by peer competitors such as China and Russia.
“The speed, range, and survivability of hypersonic weapons are key to integrated deterrence for America,” Secretary of the Navy John Phelan said. “When fielded, Conventional Prompt Strike will deliver unmatched capabilities to our warfighters.”
The Navy said data from the April 25 test will guide system refinements and future deployments, supporting efforts to provide fast, survivable, long-range strike capabilities at sea.
