What Happened to USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000)?

The USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) represents a groundbreaking yet controversial chapter in modern naval warfare. Conceived in the late 1990s as the lead ship of a class of 32 stealth destroyers, its initial design focused on land attack and naval gunfire support, featuring two advanced 155mm Advanced Gun Systems (AGS) and a distinctive wave-piercing tumblehome hull for reduced radar cross-section. However, the program was quickly beset by escalating costs, with the per-ship price soaring from an initial estimate of $1.4 billion to over $7.5 billion, including research and development, leading to a drastic reduction in the class size to just three ships.

A critical turning point occurred in 2016 when the specialized Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP) ammunition for the AGS was canceled due to its astronomical cost, estimated at $800,000 to $1 million per round. This rendered the ship's primary armament unusable and left the highly advanced destroyer without a clear mission, prompting a reevaluation of its role. The Navy subsequently shifted the Zumwalt-class's primary mission from land attack to offensive surface strike, aiming to leverage its advanced power system and stealth capabilities for future high-end combat.

The most significant development in the Zumwalt's story is its recent transformation into a hypersonic missile strike platform. In August 2023, the USS Zumwalt entered dry dock at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for a comprehensive modernization. This extensive refit involved the removal of both 155mm AGS mounts and their replacement with four large Advanced Payload Module (APM) tubes, capable of housing a total of 12 Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missiles. The installation of these advanced payload modules was completed in November 2025, and the ship was undocked in December 2024.

As of January 2026, the USS Zumwalt successfully completed builder's sea trials, marking its first return to sea after the extensive modifications. The ship is expected to be reactivated and set sail in 2026, becoming the first vessel in the U.S. Navy's inventory armed with hypersonic missiles. This upgrade is intended to transform the Zumwalt-class from a troubled experimental vessel into a premier, stealthy, long-range strike platform, particularly vital for potential conflicts in the Pacific theater. The Navy plans the first afloat CPS test shot from USS Zumwalt in 2027. The other two Zumwalt-class destroyers, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) and USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002), are also scheduled to receive similar CPS upgrades, with work on DDG-1002 already underway. Additionally, in April 2026, Raytheon was awarded a $213.4 million contract modification for ongoing combat system work on the Zumwalt-class, with completion expected by April 2027. The class is also slated for modifications to increase fuel endurance and range, crucial for extended patrols in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Navy now views the Zumwalt class as a technological bridge to future nuclear-powered battleships (BBGN), highlighting its continued strategic importance.