According to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) reports from a few days ago, it has been confirmed that the future hypersonic missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) of the United States Navy (US Navy) has set sail once again to begin what are believed to be navigation trials and system checks. This marks one of the most significant milestones in an extensive and complex modernization process. Records show the vessel departed from the port of Pascagoula, Mississippi, on January 15, 2026, for an undisclosed location.
This new outing to sea is the first time the destroyer has moved under its own power since August 2023, when it entered the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) facilities for a profound transformation and modernization, having been refloated during 2024. Its return to the sea suggests that the most critical structural works have been completed, allowing progress toward the operational verification and validation phase of its systems and equipment through real-world testing.
The current testing campaign is part of the class modernization program initiated in 2023, which seeks to convert the Zumwalt-class destroyers into the first U.S. Navy surface platforms capable of operating and deploying hypersonic missiles. This is achieved through the installation and integration of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system. To this end, the ship underwent major modifications, including the removal of its two original Advanced Gun System (AGS) 155mm turrets and the installation of four large-diameter vertical launch tubes, designed to house 12 of these new strategic weapons.
During recent months, official images and reports had already shown significant progress in the integration of the hypersonic missile launch system, as well as work on the internal structure, electrical systems, and combat suites. The sea trials will now allow for an evaluation of the platform’s overall performance, its propulsion, maneuverability, and the correct interaction between the newly incorporated subsystems.
Furthermore, in another step of this program, the U.S. Navy announced in May 2025 that the new hypersonic launch system installed on the USS Zumwalt was successfully tested. At that time, official channels reported that the activity was part of Strategic Systems Programs and marked a milestone as the first time the CPS capability was employed using the “cold gas” launch approach being developed by the force.
It is worth remembering that the USS Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class originally conceived as a highly automated, stealth-focused multi-mission destroyer. However, high costs, technical issues, and changes in operational requirements led to a redefinition of its role, orienting it toward long-range strike missions against strategically important targets. The operational conversion of the ship into a hypersonic missile carrier represents an attempt to capitalize on a unique but numerically limited platform—only three units were built—within the American surface fleet.
Finally, according to limited information from observers, the USS Zumwalt returned to port a few days after its departure. This leaves open questions regarding the next planned steps for finalizing its sea trials before its formal redelivery to the U.S. Navy. Once reincorporated into service, it will embody the priority the force has placed on obtaining and deploying hypersonic capabilities—a field where the United States has found itself trailing behind other powers like Russia and China in recent years.
*Photographs: Credits to the respective owners.
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