Key Points and Summary on Zumwalt-Class – The US Navy has deployed the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), one of its three Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers, to Japan in a clear strategic signal to China.
-The deployment comes as the troubled Zumwalt-class is being revitalized with a new mission: serving as a launch platform for hypersonic missiles.
-The ships are having their failed, expensive 155mm guns removed and replaced with launch tubes for the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) weapon, a hypersonic missile with a range of 1,725 miles.
-This upgrade turns the once-floundering Zumwalt program into a key asset for projecting power in the Indo-Pacific.
The Zumwalt-Class Is No Stealth Joke
The United States Navy’s stealth destroyer, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), arrived in Japan following China’s recent demonstration of its naval power.
The US Seventh Fleet Public Affairs released a statement saying, “US Navy ships routinely conduct port visits for rest, refuel, replenishment, and repair to sustain our operations at sea and ensure our forces are always ready to respond to any contingency.”
Zumwalt-Class Stealth Destroyers To Get Hypersonic Missiles
The Zumwalt-class destroyer is undergoing upgrades, including the installation of hypersonic missile capabilities, which will save the program by giving the ships a new, relevant mission and improving their ability to strike distant targets.
This upgrade, along with other modernization efforts, aims to address the Zumwalt’s past issues with cost overruns and a lack of clear purpose.
The Zumwalt-class destroyers were initially envisioned as a large class of ships. However, budget constraints and design issues led to a significant reduction in the number of ships built (from 32 to 3).
The original gun system proved too expensive, and the ships lacked a clear mission beyond land attack, which became less of a priority for the Navy.
The high cost per ship (around $8 billion) also raised questions about the program’s value.
The Navy is now retrofitting the Zumwalt destroyers with the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system, specifically designed for hypersonic missiles.
The USS Zumwalt, the lead ship of the class, is undergoing the installation of four missile tubes that will eventually carry the Conventional Prompt Strike weapon.
This modernization will replace its forward 155mm gun mount with the tubes that will field three missiles apiece for a total of up to 12.
Starting last year, workers at the shipyard removed the gun and then cleared out the magazine and loading system that went down several decks into the bow.
Workers then replaced the area with new decks and systems to wrap around the four 87-inch missile tubes. Zumwalt’s rear gun mount was left intact, complete with auto-loader systems and magazines.
The Monsoor will eventually head to port in 2026 to undergo the same modernization. That is about the same time that the Zumwalt will be finished with its modernization.
“The missile—the all-up round—we’re continuing forward with all that testing because the missile has to be what we call in-air launched because it’s so large. It’s not like any other type of missile. You don’t light this thing off inside,” said Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, the Navy’s director of strategic programs, back in November.
This upgrade will provide the ships with a crucial long-range strike capability, enabling them to target adversaries from a significant distance.
Hypersonic missiles can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (about 3,836.35 mph), making them extremely difficult to intercept.
By equipping the Zumwalts with this capability, including their stealth profile, the Navy hopes to revitalize the program and give the ships a vital role in modern naval warfare.
Why The Monsoor’s Deployment Is Important
The USS Michael Monsoor is one of three Zumwalt-class destroyers that serve in the US Navy, the others being the USS Zumwalt and the USS Lyndon B. Johnson.
The Zumwalt-class warships feature a stealthy hull design that reduces radar reflection, making them more challenging to detect. They are also being modified to launch hypersonic missiles, a weapon capable of traveling at more than five times the speed of sound.
China follows the Sun Tzu tactic of “winning without fighting.” The Chinese Navy and Coast Guard have been aggressive and coercive, using their gray-zone tactics in the region and elsewhere and publishing disinformation, sowing chaos in the area.
The presence of an American stealth warship in Japan—a US ally—comes after China’s simultaneous deployment of two aircraft carriers last month on the eastern side of the First Island Chain, a US defensive line comprising Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines in the western Pacific.
Earlier during the Monsoor’s deployment, it made a port call to the US base on Guam, part of the Second Island Chain. It sends a message to China that the US will keep its defensive alliances with the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and others.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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