U.S. Navy Faces Delays in Hypersonic Missile Installation on Zumwalt Destroyers
The U.S. Navy's initiative to equip three Zumwalt-class destroyers with hypersonic missiles is experiencing a two-year delay, as reported by government auditors. The project, part of the joint Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) missile program with the Army, has encountered several challenges, including rising costs, schedule delays, and reliability issues with the DDG-1000 class destroyers. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted these issues, noting that the Navy and Army are not effectively coordinating their efforts, which could lead to further delays and inefficient use of taxpayer funds. The Navy initially planned to arm the Zumwalts with CPS boost-glide hypersonic missiles, which can hit targets thousands of miles away in under 30 minutes. However, modifications to the destroyers, such as installing vertical launch tubes, have added to the project's complexity and cost. 
