Article

2020-01-17 Science & Technology

[Warrior Maven] The Navy’s newest destroyer may fire a not-yet-to-be fielded Conventional Prompt Strike conventionally-armed missile engineered to hit anywhere on earth within an hour, service program managers said.

The weapon, now being considered by Navy weapons developers for the emerging USS Zumwalt, will bring new attack options to the stealthy destroyer being prepared for combat as soon as 2021, Capt. Kevin Smith, Zumwalt-class destroyer Program Manager said Jan. 15 at the Surface Naval Association Annual Symposium.

"This would be the perfect platform for Conventional Prompt Strike, Smith said.

The Conventional Prompt Strike weapons program, emerging during former President George W. Bush era, is designed to arm a ballistic missile with a conventional warhead, bringing the range and speed similar to a nuclear weapon to conventional strike. The weapon has virtually unprecedented range for a conventional weapon and has the ability to hit anywhere in the world in a matter of minutes in some instances. The concept with the weapon is to enable fast attack against enemy targets from safe standoff distances quickly, potentially at the beginning of a conflict. This would enable rapid attack without forcing having to wait for deployment options or place vital war assets in closer range of enemy attack. In essence, should a conflict quickly break out, CPS will give command authority a "rapid hit" option to possibly deter further war or destroy crucial enemy targets with "tactical surprise."

Firing this weapon from the new stealth destroyer brings several new strategic and tactical advantages. First and foremost, arming the ship with CPS aligns with the service’s strategic requirements for the ship which, as of 2017, migrated from an initial conception of a largely land attack destroyer to the "premier strike platform in the surface fleet," Vice Adm. Rich Brown, Commander, Naval Surfaces Forces, said at the SNA symposium. As a "blue water" attack platform, the Zumwalt is now being prepared for major power warfare on the "open ocean" and therefore armed with long-range weapons, sensors and other lethality-enhancing technologies.

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-01-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 Prob. No one know if this a nuke or not. Russians and Chinese might get itchy fingers.

Posted by Spanky Whuter1088 2020-01-17 00:12|| 2020-01-17 00:12|| Front Page Top

#2 No Prob.
the stealthy destroyer being prepared for ~~combat~~ floating as soon as 2021

Posted by Skidmark 2020-01-17 00:30|| 2020-01-17 00:30|| Front Page Top

#3 need to put this missile on a real boat, not this tom
swiftie pos

Posted by USN, Ret. 2020-01-17 01:15|| 2020-01-17 01:15|| Front Page Top

#4 better yet, hang these things on the all purpose hornet and lightning; more systems they both can phuque up

Posted by USN, Ret. 2020-01-17 01:17|| 2020-01-17 01:17|| Front Page Top

#5 Trying to figure out a "Role & Mission" for this over priced technology demonstrator ship class? By the same logic you could put the missile in a cargo container (disposable after firing) and launch it from anything with a flat deck...

Posted by magpie 2020-01-17 11:15|| 2020-01-17 11:15|| Front Page Top

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