GAO: No comprehensive plan for CPS hypersonic missile deployment

Image: GAO

The Navy is installing the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile on three ships and plans to add it to some future submarines. The Army is also buying the missile. Together, the services are investing over $50 billion in this effort.

However, says the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) the Department of War “doesn’t have a comprehensive plan to help the Army and Navy coordinate on these purchases—preventing it from making cost-saving choices. For example, Army and Navy officials coordinate on day-to-day operations. But they don’t coordinate on bigger-picture issues, like how to invest money efficiently in the shared production line for the missile.”

What GAO found

The Navy is currently 24 months behind in its efforts to modernize three DDG 1000 Zumwalt class destroyers to host the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile as part of its surface strike mission. Both the DDG 1000 and CPS efforts face challenges:

Although modernization of the first ship in the class, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), was 94% complete as of January 2026, it is behind schedule due to unplanned work.

The DDG 1000 class ships have unique systems, such as its radar, combat, and network systems, that are costly and difficult to sustain and maintain.

The CPS effort was originally scheduled to begin flight testing on the DDG 1000 class in 2025 but this is now planned for 2027 due to funding and testing challenges.

The CPS program encountered quality and production issues putting the current rate well below the production goal of 12 missile rounds per year.

DOD is planning to invest at least $50 billion into developing, testing, producing, and fielding CPS capability across several programs, including: CPS, Virginia class submarine, and the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, among others. While Navy and Army officials told GAO that they coordinate with each other, the services largely manage investment decisions for these programs separately, which contributes to inefficiencies and delays.

DOD does not have a comprehensive strategy across all programs that ensures that each program’s investments achieve CPS’s common objectives. Without a comprehensive investment strategy that includes more formal coordination, the Army and Navy are not well-positioned to make timely and efficient investments in key areas, such as addressing shortfalls on their shared production lines or ensuring the economical sustainment and performance of the DDG 1000.

GAO is recommending that the Department of War develop and regularly review a comprehensive strategy that guides the coordination of investment decisions for delivering CPS capability. DOD concurred with this recommendation.

• Download the full report HERE