Recently, the destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) of the United States Navy (US Navy), the first ship and lead vessel of its class, successfully completed a series of sea trials after undergoing more than a year of work and refit at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) facilities in Pascagoula, Mississippi. These activities were part of a deep and significant modernization program, aimed at providing the ship with the capability to employ and launch hypersonic missiles in line with the Navy’s requirements for the use of this new class of weaponry.
According to official information released by HII on January 21, the trials carried out made it possible to verify the proper functioning of the main systems installed and integrated on the ship following the modifications, including checks of the propulsion systems, electrical power generation, navigation and control systems, as well as various critical subsystems affected by the operational conversion process. This step validated what had been anticipated days earlier, when Zumwalt was seen leaving port to begin a new phase of sea trials.
The modernization of DDG-1000 represents one of the most significant changes in the recent history of the class. Since entering the Pascagoula shipyard in 2023, the ship was adapted to integrate the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapon launch system, which involved the removal of the two Advanced Gun Systems (AGS) and the installation of four large launch tubes capable of employing intermediate-range hypersonic missiles. This modification seeks to transform Zumwalt into a key long-range strike platform to be employed against strategic targets, strengthening the deterrence capability of the United States Navy.
In addition to the integration of the new launch system, work on the destroyer included structural adjustments, updates to combat systems, and improvements to the electrical architecture, leveraging the powerful integrated propulsion system that characterizes the class. These energy capabilities are essential to support both the new sensors and next-generation weapon systems integrated into the hull.
Regarding the status of the remaining units, HII confirmed that it is also engaged in the work of upgrading and installing hypersonic missile launch systems on the USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002)—the third ship of the Zumwalt class—but without providing further details or a timeline for trials and delivery.
As for the future of the second destroyer of the class, the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), it is still awaiting a decision, since although its modernization is planned like that of the other two ships, it has yet to receive the green light from the U.S. Navy, as well as the availability of the necessary industrial capacities.
Finally, returning to the USS Zumwalt, the completion of its first post-modernization sea trials paves the way for further progress in the testing and evaluation schedule led by HII. It is expected that this process will conclude when delivery to the Navy is scheduled, at which point the service will also conduct its own acceptance trials and operational validation for the ship’s future return to service.
Cover photograph used for illustrative purposes.
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