USA: first American naval hypersonic missile launched
he US Department of Defense (DoD) revealed on Friday that the missile launched from Cape Canaveral Space Station, Florida, on April 25 demonstrated a successful end-to-end hypersonic flight test, marking the first use of a cold-gas launch system at sea.
This system, which safely ejects the missile from a naval platform before ignition, is expected to play a key role in future deployments of advanced weapons at sea, including aboard the USS Zumwalt.
In a press release , the Pentagon emphasized that the data collected from the test will support the continued development of the Common All-Up Round (AUR), a joint hypersonic missile under development for both the Navy and Army, all to reduce the costs of developing the complex weapon.
“The speed, range and survivability of hypersonic weapons are critical to America's integrated deterrence,” said Secretary of the Navy John Phelan. “Once fielded, the Conventional Prompt Strike will offer unparalleled capabilities to our warfighters.”
Cold launch, big leap
The test comes as the United States steps up efforts to build hypersonic capabilities, joining Russia and China in a growing global race to master the technology. Russia has reportedly used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, while China has denied testing such weapons, despite US military claims.
Rear Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr., director of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), emphasized that the cold-gas launch approach brings the Navy closer to safely employing hypersonic systems.
“The cold gas approach allows the Navy to eject the missile from the platform and reach a safe distance from the ship before first stage ignition,” Wolfe said. “This technical achievement brings the SSP one step closer to fulfilling our role of providing a safe and reliable hypersonic capability to our Navy.”
The CPS program was critical in preparing for the Navy's first deployment aboard the Zumwalt.
Prior to the flight test, the program conducted an extensive test campaign using an air launch facility to validate the launch approach.
Information gathered from the test will help inform the continued development of the AUR and its integration with surface naval platforms, the Navy said.
Silent test, strong message
On April 25, the Department of Defense maintained maximum secrecy as it launched from Launch Complex 46 to conduct the test, one of the first warfare missile launches from Cape Canaveral since 1988. A navigational advisory issued by the U.S. Coast Guard hinted at a hypersonic test flight, delineating a large safety zone extending into the Atlantic Ocean.
"A team of government, academic and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defense from a test site at the Cape Canaveral Space Station. We are currently evaluating the test results," a Department of Defense spokesperson told Florida Today at the time, without disclosing further details.
the common launcher tested at Cape Canaveral
The rapid advancement of sea-based hypersonic strike systems is seen as a significant boost to the U.S. military's ability to deter or, if necessary, defeat strategic threats.
The range, speed, precision and survivability of hypersonic weapons represent a major leap in US conventional strike capability , complementing existing systems and strengthening its advantage against high-end adversaries.
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This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/usa-lanciato-il-primo-missile-ipersonico-navale-americano/ on Sat, 03 May 2025 11:00:22 +0000.