In a major breakthrough for American military technology, the U.S. Navy has successfully tested a sea-based launch system for a hypersonic missile. The test took place on May 2, 2025, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and is seen as a critical step in closing the hypersonic weapons gap between the United States and its adversaries, particularly China and Russia.
The launch involved the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) missile, which is being developed jointly by the U.S. Navy and the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. This test marks the first time a cold-gas ejection method has been used for a sea-based hypersonic weapon in the United States.
Cold-Gas Launch System: A Safer Way to Deploy Hypersonics at Sea
Unlike traditional missile launches, which ignite the missile while still inside the launch tube or shortly after exiting, the cold-gas system uses compressed gas to safely eject the missile from the ship before ignition. This reduces the risk to the vessel and crew and is crucial for ship-based operations where space and safety margins are limited.
Vice Admiral Johnny R. Wolfe Jr., Director of the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs, emphasized the importance of this advancement. “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,” Wolfe said in a public statement. “This technical achievement brings SSP one step closer to fulfilling our role of providing a safe and reliable hypersonic capability to our Navy.”
What Is the CPS Missile and Why It Matters
The CPS missile features the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB), a specially designed warhead that detaches from the booster mid-flight and glides to its target at hypersonic speeds. The missile travels at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or over 3,800 miles per hour, and has an estimated range of around 1,725 miles.
Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, the C-HGB can maneuver unpredictably in flight, which makes it significantly harder for enemy defense systems to detect, track, or intercept. This new generation of missiles is designed to counter increasingly advanced air defense systems deployed by rival nations.
USS Zumwalt: First Warship to Field Hypersonics
The stealth destroyer USS Zumwalt is undergoing significant modifications to accommodate the CPS missile system. Four 87-inch vertical launch tubes are being installed to house the hypersonic missiles, replacing the ship’s original 155mm Advanced Gun Systems. Each tube will be capable of carrying three CPS missiles, allowing the ship to carry a total of 12.
The Advanced Gun Systems were originally intended for long-range land attacks but were eventually abandoned due to the high cost of ammunition, which reportedly exceeded $800,000 per round. The transition to hypersonic missiles is seen as a major upgrade in both capability and relevance.
Retrofit work on the Zumwalt is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. While operational deployment of CPS weapons is still a few years away, Navy officials say the successful test is a clear indication that the program is moving in the right direction.
China’s Hypersonic Arsenal and Its Growing Threat
While the United States celebrates this advancement, it remains in a heated global race for hypersonic superiority. China has been aggressively developing its hypersonic weapons program and has already demonstrated the Dongfeng-17 (DF-17) and more recently, the Dongfeng-27 (DF-27). These missiles are believed to be capable of reaching targets as far as Hawaii and could potentially penetrate existing U.S. missile defense systems.
According to defense analysts, China’s DF-27 is a glide-boost system similar to the American CPS but may already be operational. Chinese military experts have gone so far as to claim that these hypersonic missiles could destroy an entire U.S. aircraft carrier group, which would significantly disrupt American military operations in the Indo-Pacific.
Although many American defense officials caution that these claims may be exaggerated, they are taken seriously. The Department of Defense has acknowledged that Chinese hypersonic technology represents a real threat, particularly in scenarios involving Taiwan or disputes in the South China Sea.
The Different Types of Hypersonic Missiles
There are three primary types of hypersonic weapons, each with unique characteristics and uses:
- Aeroballistic missiles: These are dropped from aircraft, then accelerated to hypersonic speed by rocket propulsion. After acceleration, they follow a ballistic trajectory. An example is Russia’s Kinzhal missile.
- Glide vehicles: These are launched by a booster rocket, then glide at high speeds through the atmosphere, maneuvering as they approach their target. China’s DF-17 and the U.S. CPS are both examples.
- Hypersonic cruise missiles: These use scramjet engines to maintain hypersonic speeds after an initial rocket boost. They can fly lower and more stealthily than ballistic or glide systems. Both China and the U.S. are currently developing scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missiles.
Hypersonic missiles present enormous challenges to current defense systems. Because they fly at speeds over Mach 5 and maneuver during flight, they are difficult to detect and even harder to intercept. Furthermore, they travel at altitudes between those of conventional cruise missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles, an area where radar coverage and interceptor systems are not well-developed.
The Glide Phase Interceptor: U.S. and Japan’s Answer to Hypersonic Threats
To deal with these new threats, the U.S. has partnered with Japan to develop the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI). This system is designed to destroy hypersonic missiles during their vulnerable glide phase, before they can reach their targets.
Though still in development, the GPI is intended to fill a major gap in U.S. missile defense. If successful, it would offer protection for U.S. fleets and allied territories, especially in the Pacific region, where the threat from Chinese and North Korean missile programs continues to grow.
The Pentagon views this partnership with Japan as more than a technological collaboration. It is also a message to China that the U.S. and its allies are serious about maintaining regional stability and are willing to invest in cutting-edge defense systems to counter any future aggression.
Who Is Winning the Hypersonic Race?
At present, Russia and China have both fielded hypersonic weapons, while the United States is still in the testing and deployment phase. Russia’s Avangard and Kinzhal systems have been used in combat in Ukraine, although their effectiveness remains unclear. China, meanwhile, has focused heavily on developing glide vehicles and possibly nuclear-capable systems like the DF-ZF.
Despite starting later, the United States is catching up fast. The CPS program, combined with defensive projects like the GPI, shows that the U.S. is not content to remain behind. Officials believe that once these systems are fully operational, the U.S. will not only match but potentially surpass Chinese capabilities.
According to Vice Adm. Wolfe, “Our goal is not just to have a hypersonic weapon. Our goal is to have a system that is safe, reliable, and ready for the challenges ahead.”
One of the greatest dangers of hypersonic weapons is the potential for miscalculation. Because these missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads and move so quickly, it may be impossible to determine their payload before they strike. This uncertainty could cause a targeted nation to respond with nuclear force before confirming the nature of the attack.
Given these risks, many experts believe it is essential for the U.S. to not only develop hypersonic weapons but also lead efforts to create global standards and communication protocols to prevent escalation. The faster the technology develops, the greater the need for diplomacy to manage it.
In the meantime, the U.S. Navy’s recent success at Cape Canaveral proves that America is not standing still. The hypersonic race is well underway, and the United States is gaining speed with each new test.