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The US military has conducted a successful end-to-end flight test of a conventional hypersonic missile under plans to achieve America’s first sea-based hypersonic fielding.
The test, conducted at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, is envisioned to inform the US Navy about appropriate fielding for the conventional prompt strike offensive hypersonic capability.
The test also informs the continued development and production of the common hypersonic missile that is being developed in partnership with the US Army.
“The speed, range, and survivability of hypersonic weapons are key to integrated deterrence for America,” said Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.
“When fielded, Conventional Prompt Strike will deliver unmatched capabilities to our warfighters.”
The test was the next step in the Navy’s flight-testing program of the common All Up Round (AUR) that is being developed in partnership with the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.
The CPS Program has been planned and executed to prepare for the first Navy fielding aboard the US guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt.
Information gathered from the test is expected to inform the continued development and production of the AUR and the first use of this cold-gas launch approach on a surface ship platform.
“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 US Navy strategic systems programs director and common hypersonic missile lead designer Vice Admiral Johnny R. Wolfe Jr.
“This technical achievement brings SSP one step closer to fulfilling our role of providing a safe and reliable hypersonic capability to our Navy.”
