Overview
- Government auditors report the Navy’s effort to fit Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missiles onto three Zumwalt-class destroyers is roughly two years behind schedule and CPS flight testing has slipped to 2027.
- The study says projected missile acquisition costs climbed from a 2020 Navy estimate of $31 billion for 262 rounds to about $41 billion for 224 rounds, putting pressure on defense budgets.
- GAO identifies production shortfalls at the prime contractor, including problems with heat-resistant coatings, substandard parts, and a factory output of about six to seven missiles per year instead of the planned 12.
- Ship modifications and sustainment issues on the DDG-1000 class have added work and delays, with unplanned cabling, unreliable power systems, and spare-parts shortages slowing missile installation and readiness.
- The report warns that without clearer joint Navy–Army procurement decisions and fixes to contractor training and ship integration, the program risks further schedule slips, higher costs for taxpayers, and gaps in U.S. prompt-strike capability.