Navy Trials Hypervelocity Projectiles for Counter-Drone Missions
In August 2024, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) conducted live-fire testing of BAE Systems’ Hypervelocity Projectiles during the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) Composite Training Unit Exercise. The event marked the first of two major evaluation campaigns aimed at shaping the U.S. Navy’s approach to low-cost air and missile defense, particularly in the counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) domain.
The trials were part of a broader fleet effort involving four distinct systems. USS Jason Dunham focused on the HVP, while USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) evaluated Lockheed Martin’s Longbow Hellfire, Anduril’s Roadrunner, and Raytheon’s Coyote. These initiatives are tied to a military-wide push to rapidly field technologies capable of addressing the escalating cost of defending against proliferating drone threats.
“Since the start of kinetic operations in the Red Sea, the Navy has rapidly tested and is fielding dedicated Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) capabilities for our deployed ships,” stated a Joint Statement delivered to the House Armed Services Committee in June.
Three of the four systems are already confirmed for operational deployment. The Longbow Hellfire, for example, has been integrated aboard the Littoral Combat Ship USS Indianapolis (LCS-17) during its 5th Fleet operations in the Red Sea. The LCS platform’s existing vertical launch cells simplify Hellfire integration, a contrast to Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which lack such dedicated cells. However, Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Quad Launcher—displayed for the first time at the Surface Navy Association’s 2025 symposium—suggests a potential path for destroyer integration. The model featured reloadable vertical launch cells adapted for the class.
USS The Sullivans, currently deployed in the Mediterranean for ballistic missile defense in support of Israel, has not been observed carrying visible Hellfire or Coyote launchers, and the presence of Roadrunner drones remains unconfirmed. Nonetheless, both Roadrunner and Coyote have been slated for deployment with the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which will operate under U.S. 6th Fleet. According to Stars and Stripes coverage of the group’s COMPTUEX, six destroyers will accompany the carrier.
While the other systems have drawn visible attention, the HVP program has maintained a lower profile. BAE Systems representatives, speaking at the Association of the U.S. Army conference in October 2024, confirmed the projectile’s effectiveness against a range of airborne threats. The HASC hearing further reinforced that August’s trials demonstrated HVP’s capability to defeat Group 3 drones—medium-sized unmanned aircraft—in a cost-effective manner.
“The results of these tests showed that [HVP, Roadrunner, Longbow Hellfire, and Coyote] can be effectively employed to defeat Group 3 drones in a more cost-effective manner. All four of these systems are being evaluated further for technical and tactical maturity and the results of that analysis will determine what combination of these systems is deployed on the next carrier strike group headed for the Red Sea,” the Joint Statement noted.
Hypervelocity Projectiles are guided munitions designed to be fired from conventional naval guns, such as the 5-inch/62 caliber Mark 45, at speeds exceeding Mach 3. Originally conceived for electromagnetic railgun programs, HVPs have since been adapted for powder guns, offering a potential low-cost, high-speed intercept option against cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones. Their kinetic energy and precision guidance enable engagements without explosive warheads, reducing collateral damage risks.
Operational deployment of HVPs remains unconfirmed. Navy officials have declined to specify whether the guided rounds are currently loaded aboard destroyers in active theaters. Photographic evidence offers no definitive indicators, as the projectiles are externally similar to standard ammunition. In October, when asked about weapons in use during Red Sea combat operations, a Navy spokesperson provided limited details on the Mark 45’s current loadout.
The August tests represent a significant step in evaluating how traditional naval gun systems can be repurposed for modern air defense challenges. By combining proven gun platforms with advanced guided munitions, the Navy is exploring ways to counter unmanned threats without relying solely on expensive missile interceptors. The outcome of ongoing technical and tactical assessments will influence which systems join future carrier strike group deployments in contested regions.
