The U.S. Navy is planning a dedicated Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) missile storage and support facility at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, according to Naval News’ report on newly posted NAVFAC requirements. The planned complex would support CPS-equipped Zumwalt-class destroyers and Block V and VI Virginia-class submarines.
The requirements call for one two-bay, earth-covered Containerized Large Weapons Storage magazine, two mechanical buildings for climate control and electrical support, and an emergency generator facility. Each storage bay would have a 25-ton bridge crane for moving missiles and components. The structures would use reinforced concrete foundations, walls, floors and roofs, with ordnance bonding, grounding, lightning protection and earth covering.
The Yorktown site is intended to handle CPS weapons, which are larger than missiles currently in the Navy’s inventory, and provide operational, maintenance and storage support. The report does not identify a construction award, contract value or completion date, so the requirements represent a planned capability rather than a fielded facility.
The installation would support a missile system still moving toward platform integration. Naval News previously reported that General Dynamics Electric Boat had completed the first Virginia Payload Module for the future USS Arizona, the first submarine expected to receive the module. The module’s four larger launch canisters can carry either seven Tomahawk-sized missiles apiece or three CPS weapons apiece, for a potential total of 12 CPS rounds; the report also said it remained unclear when the submarine and its sister boats would reach the Navy in its September account.