GAO Warns Navy, Army Hypersonic Missile Efforts Lack Unified Strategy, Risking Cost Overruns and Delays

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon lacks a cohesive strategy for jointly investing in a critical hypersonic missile capability, raising concerns about potential program delays and financial waste, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

Both the Navy and the Army are advancing separate versions of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system, with combined investments expected to exceed $50 billion. The Navy is integrating vertical launch systems onto Zumwalt-class destroyers and certain Virginia-class submarines, while the Army develops its ground-based Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (Dark Eagle). The Army also oversees production of the shared missile glide body, with each of the planned 224 missiles projected to cost tens of millions of dollars.

GAO highlighted that despite claimed coordination between the services, investment decisions remain siloed, leading to inefficiencies. The Navy faces a two-year delay in upgrading its three Zumwalt-class destroyers, with the USS Zumwalt 94 percent complete by January 2026 but hindered by unplanned work. Flight testing for CPS on these ships has been pushed back to 2027 due to funding and testing obstacles.

Production challenges further complicate the effort. Prime contractor Lockheed Martin struggles to meet the target of 12 missile rounds annually, currently limited to six to seven per year. The company acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve manufacturing processes and supply chain resilience, directing specific inquiries to the Office of the Secretary of War.

The report criticized the Navy’s fragmented approach, noting a lack of portfolio-wide oversight in investment decisions. With the Army managing its own procurement and production oversight, the GAO emphasized the need for a joint strategy to optimize funding and prevent redundant efforts. “The Navy cannot make decisions in isolation,” the report stated, urging the Department of Defense to establish a unified framework for CPS program coordination.

The Pentagon agreed with the recommendation, though no additional comments were provided. The Navy similarly declined to elaborate when contacted.

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