The US Navy is transforming Pearl Harbor into the first base to host both surface ships and submarines armed with hypersonic weapons, marking one of the most significant updates to America’s Pacific posture in decades. By 2030, the base in Hawaii will serve as home to the Navy’s first fleet equipped with the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system, a sea-launched hypersonic missile capable of reaching targets thousands of miles away within minutes.
The move comes as Washington looks to counter China’s expanding naval power and growing activity around Taiwan and the South China Sea. By positioning its fastest and most advanced strike platforms in the Pacific, the US aims to shorten response times and strengthen deterrence in one of the most strategically tense regions in the world.
According to Navy planning documents and reports from Naval News, all three Zumwalt-class destroyers and several Virginia-class submarines armed with CPS weapons will be stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. Major infrastructure upgrades, including reinforced piers, new power systems, and improved weapon-handling facilities, are already underway to accommodate the new fleet.
A Zumwalt class destroyer
Each Zumwalt destroyer will carry 12 hypersonic missiles, while the upgraded Virginia-class submarines with the Virginia Payload Module will hold the same number. Together, they will offer long-range strike capabilities across land, air, and sea.
Originally designed for stealth and shore bombardment, the futuristic Zumwalt-class ships have been repurposed as hypersonic launch platforms. Their powerful electrical systems and internal space make them ideal for next-generation weapons like lasers or railguns. “The Zumwalts have the power, the stealth, and the room for the weapons of tomorrow,” said one Navy engineer.
Still, some naval experts warn that the small number of hypersonic missiles may limit their effectiveness in large-scale conflicts. Retired Rear Adm. Joe Sestak noted that while the missiles are nearly impossible to intercept, 12 per ship may not be enough for decisive action. “You can’t stop an invasion with that,” he said.
By 2030, Pearl Harbor will host fewer than 60 hypersonic weapons, a small but powerful arsenal meant to deter, not initiate, conflict. The shift reflects a broader US strategy to harden its Pacific presence and modernize its strike capabilities.
Once the site of America’s greatest naval loss, Pearl Harbor is now being reimagined as the centerpiece of the Navy’s most advanced fleet, signaling a new phase of high-speed, precision warfare in the Pacific.
