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DDG(X)

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U.S. Navy program to develop a class of principle surface combatants Not to be confused with DD(X).

DDG(X) concept as presented in the 2022 Surface Navy Association symposium
Class overview
NameDDG(X)
Operators United States Navy
Preceded by
Built2032 (planned)
General characteristics (conceptual)
TypeGuided-missile destroyer
Tonnage13,290 long tons (13,500 t)
PropulsionIntegrated Power System
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck and enclosed hangar

The DDG(X) or Next-Generation Guided-Missile Destroyer program of the United States Navy aims to develop a class of surface combatants to succeed 22 Flight II Ticonderoga-class cruisers and 28 Flight I/II Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The program is the culmination of the Large Surface Combatant (LSC) initiative that followed the cancellation of CG(X) and curtailing of the procurement of the Zumwalt-class destroyers. The ships will become the principal large surface combatants of the U.S. Navy. Compared to their predecessors, they will incorporate more powerful sensors and have more room and weight margin for growth.

History

With the cancellation of the CG(X) in 2010, the U.S. Navy embarked on new studies and programs for the future of the air defense role fulfilled by the Ticonderoga-class cruisers. Because the cruisers were built on the Spruance-class destroyer hulls, they had limited upgrade potential due to space, weight, and power margins.

Meanwhile, the procurement of the Zumwalt-class destroyers was severely curtailed due to high costs and a renewed emphasis on air and missile defense for larger combatants. Eventually, the Navy chose to upgrade the Ticonderogas and procure the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with the enhanced AN/SPY-6 and improved combat systems to supplement the Ticonderogas for air and missile defense.

The Navy also launched studies into a Future Surface Combatant (FSC) to replace the Ticonderoga-class—which will reach the end of their service lives in the 2020s—as well as older flights of the Arleigh Burke class. The FSC evolved into the Large Surface Combatant (LSC) program, which became the DDG(X). The DDG(X) program office was established in June 2021. In February 2022, Gibbs & Cox was contracted to provide design and engineering support. The Navy is retaining the lead design role.

Design

Hull

Various hull configurations are currently being tested at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock and NSWC Philadelphia. A concept presented at the 2022 Surface Warfare Symposium depicts an angular hull form with displacement of 13,290 long tons (13,500 t), a conventional bow and a superstructure reminiscent of the Zumwalt-class destroyer. Future vessels of the class may be lengthened with a payload module for additional capabilities.

The DDG(X) hull design will incorporate lessons and elements from both the Arleigh Burke and Zumwalt designs. The vessels will be able to accommodate larger missile launch systems, improved survivability, and space, weight, power, and cooling margins for future growth. As the ships will replace the Ticonderoga-class cruisers, they will have air defense command and control facilities and accommodations for an admiral's staff.

Propulsion

The DDG(X) will use Integrated Power System (IPS), a modern integrated turboelectric drive as employed on the Zumwalt class. The vessels are expected to have 50% greater range, a 120% greater time on station, and a 25% reduction in fuel burn compared to current U.S. Navy destroyers.

Sensors

The sensors will initially be enlarged variants of the AN/SPY-6 radar mounted on the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The hull is designed with provisions for upgraded sensors in the future, including larger radar arrays.

Weapons

The Navy states that the baseline DDG(X) design, like the Flight III DDG-51 design, is to include 96 standard Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, with an ability to incorporate 12 large missile launch cells in place of 32 of the 96 standard VLS cells. The vessels will be initially fitted with 32-cell blocks of the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System, with the concept image of the hull showing at least 3 such blocks. Instead of the Mk 41 block, large-cell launchers for hypersonic missiles can also be accepted, where existing naval missiles like RIM-174 Standard ERAM and BGM-109 Tomahawk could be quad-packed into the larger canister, leveraging design improvements in the Mk 41 Single Cell Launcher and U.S. Army's Typhon missile launcher from the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) program.

The concept image shows the vessel mounting a main 5-inch (127-mm)/62 cal Mark 45 Mod 4 gun. Upgraded versions of the class may incorporate directed energy weapons, with lasers ranging from 150 to 600 kW.

See also

References

  1. "Start of construction of future US Navy DDG(X) next gen destroyers postponed to 2032". 3 November 2023.
  2. Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Congressional Research Service (Report). 9 December 2021.
  3. "Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. 26 August 2022.
  4. ^ LaGrone, Sam (12 January 2022). "Navy Unveils Next-Generation DDG(X) Warship Concept with Hypersonic Missiles, Lasers". US Naval Institute.
  5. Katz, Justin (12 January 2022). "Navy unveils latest concept for future destroyer, DDG(X)". Breaking Defense.
  6. O'Rourke, Ronald (31 May 2005). Navy DD(X) and CG(X) Programs: Background and Issues for Congress. Congressional Research Service Report for Congress (Report).
  7. 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (PDF). Department of Defense (Report). February 2010.
  8. Drew, Christopher (8 April 2009). "Contractors Agree on Deal to Build Stealth Destroyer". The New York Times.
  9. Osborn, Kris (4 April 2014). "Navy Makes Plans for New Destroyer for 2030s". Military.com.
  10. Freedberg Jr., Sydney (18 July 2018). "Destroyers Maxed Out, Navy Looks To New Hulls: Power For Radars & Lasers". Breaking Defense.
  11. Eckstein, Megan (4 June 2021). "US Navy creates DDG(X) program office after years of delays for large combatant replacement". DefenseNews.
  12. "USN enlists Gibbs & Cox for DDG(X) design and engineering support". Shephard Media. 18 February 2022.
  13. Peniston, Bradley (19 September 2022). "CNO: Navy Is Equipping Ships with a Software Arsenal, Taking Lead on New Destroyer Design". Defense One. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  14. "Report to Congress on Navy's Next-Generation Destroyer". USNI News. 1 December 2022.
  15. "The Navy Is Going To Need A Bigger Boat And It's Getting Ready To Buy One". Defense News. 17 September 2018.
  16. "Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress". crsreports.congress.gov. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  17. Lariosa, Aaron-Matthew (14 April 2023). "Lockheed Martin Developing New, Larger VLS For DDG(X)". Navalnews.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.

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