Pentagon's $50 Billion Hypersonic Missile Plan Has No One In Charge
The Zumwalt destroyer meant to fire Conventional Prompt Strike missiles is two years late, with flight tests pushed to 2027.
- Three Zumwalt-class destroyers are 94% modernized but running 24 months behind schedule.
- Each Conventional Prompt Strike missile costs nearly $50 million; the program totals over $50 billion.
- Navy and Army manage investments separately, GAO says, far below the goal of 12 missiles a year.
Why it matters: A $50 billion weapon program run by two services under two chains of command answers to neither.
GAO Report GAO-26-107974 ↗ · Jul 17, 20267/17/26 · ✓ Checked✓ Check