The USS Michael Monsoor, a Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer, arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, on Monday as part of a routine port visit, a spokesperson for the U.S. 7th Fleet confirmed.
This stop is part of the ship’s ongoing deployment in the Indo-Pacific, following its departure from Naval Base San Diego on March 28.
The Michael Monsoor is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, the largest destroyer squadron in the U.S. Navy and the primary surface force of the 7th Fleet.
The presence of the Zumwalt-class destroyer in the region underscores America’s strategic commitment to the Indo-Pacific amid mounting geopolitical tensions.
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“U.S. Navy ships routinely conduct port visits for rest, refuel, replenishment, and repair to sustain our operations at sea and ensure our forces are always ready to respond to any contingency,” the 7th Fleet spokesperson stated.
The port visit comes at a pivotal moment for the Navy's Zumwalt-class destroyers, as the service undertakes significant modifications to equip these stealth warships with cutting-edge hypersonic missile capabilities.
These upgrades are part of the Navy and Army’s joint effort under the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program — a high-priority modernization initiative designed to maintain America’s technological edge in missile warfare.
Once complete, the transformation will give each Zumwalt-class ship four new missile tubes, each capable of housing three hypersonic missiles — totaling 12 per ship.
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These hypersonic weapons, capable of speeds around Mach 5 (roughly 3,800 miles per hour), can deliver devastating damage without the need for traditional explosive warheads due to the immense kinetic energy produced by their velocity.
The Zumwalt, lead ship of the class, had its twin turrets removed in 2023 at a shipyard in Mississippi to make way for the installation of the CPS system.
The Michael Monsoor is next in line for this transformation, signaling the Navy’s continued investment in turning these once-troubled ships into strategic assets.
The growing importance of hypersonic weapons in the U.S. arsenal reflects a broader defense pivot toward the Indo-Pacific, where China’s military expansion continues to raise alarms. Beijing has also invested heavily in hypersonic technology.
In 2023, The Washington Post reported that leaked Pentagon documents confirmed China had successfully tested an intermediate-range hypersonic missile known as the DF-27.
The Navy's urgency in fielding the new hypersonic capability also comes in light of criticism surrounding the Zumwalt-class destroyers.
Initially hailed as revolutionary stealth warships capable of supporting land-attack missions with advanced gun systems, the ships failed to live up to expectations.
Each ship cost about $7.5 billion to build, and the specially designed 155mm Advanced Gun Systems were ultimately shelved due to the extreme cost of their ammunition — between $800,000 and $1 million per round.
With the gun system canceled, the Navy redirected its focus toward integrating long-range hypersonic missiles, which may finally deliver on the class’s original promise of strategic innovation.
The cost to field 300 of these hypersonic weapons, including maintenance over two decades, is estimated at nearly $18 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Despite the criticism, the Navy remains committed to modernizing the Zumwalt-class fleet and leveraging its unique capabilities to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
According to a 7th Fleet spokesperson speaking to Military Times, the Navy intends to have the CPS system operational aboard Zumwalt-class destroyers by the mid-2020s.
As the Michael Monsoor docks in Yokosuka — a key U.S. naval hub — its arrival serves as both a logistical necessity and a powerful symbol of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed readiness.
More than just a port call, the visit underscores a strategic presence in a region increasingly defined by rapid technological advancement and intensifying great-power competition.
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