US Navy’s DDG(X) Nightmare Revealed in Issue 1

What You Need to Know: As tensions with China escalate, the U.S. Navy’s DDG(X) destroyer program aims to modernize its fleet with increased firepower, survivability and directed energy weapon capabilities. Positioned to exceed the Arleigh Burke and Zumwalt classes, DDG(X) will carry advanced systems such as 96 Vertical Launch System cells and Rolling Airframe Missile launchers.

-But the program faces skepticism due to the Navy’s costly history with projects like the Zumwalt class.

–Number: With estimates reaching $3.5 billion per destroyer, Congress has expressed concerns about affordability. Despite this, the potential of the new generation destroyer may be of critical importance in a conflict with China in the South China Sea.

DDG(X) Destroyer: The U.S. Navy’s Bold Next Step Amid South China Sea Tensions

As tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to rise in the South China Sea, the US Navy is preparing to improve its naval capabilities. From aircraft carriers to fighter jets, submarines to destroyers, the service aims to upgrade every aspect of its arsenal at sea. The Navy’s upcoming DDG(X) destroyer program is designed to: fulfill this purpose. But the service’s rocky past acquisitions, which include the Littoral Combat Ship programs and the Zumwalt destroyer, could impact confidence in this next-generation platform.

Currently the Navy Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) and Zumwalt class (DDG-1000) form the service’s destroyer class. Representing the mainstay of the Navy’s surface fleet, these guided missile destroyers are quite necessary to the service’s efforts at sea. Able to operate independently or as part of a carrier strike group alongside an aircraft carrier, the destroyer will undoubtedly play a key role in any future kinetic conflict between the United States and China.

To thwart Beijing’s increasing naval advances, DDG(X) is conceptualized to exceed the capabilities of its predecessors. In 2010, the Navy’s Next Generation Cruiser CG(X) program was designed as part of the service’s post-Cold War strategy.

Ultimately, however, this idea was nixed and the Navy instead developed the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to fulfill this role. Once upon a time CG(X) canceledthe service initiated a Future Surface Combatant study that would evolve into DDG(X). While the Navy retains its primary design role in the next-generation destroyer program, manufacturer Gibbs & Cox has been contracted to provide engineering and design support.

Features and Capabilities for DDG(X)

Perhaps most importantly, DDG(X) They will need to be able to host Directed Energy weapons (DE) as they are developed.

As detailed by the U.S. Naval Institute, “The capabilities we will need in the 21st century to continue to combat the threat are increased missile capability, sensor growth, directed energy weapons that require a lot of power, increased survivability, and increased power.” availability.” In terms of armament, approaching destroyer It will be equipped with 96 Vertical Launch System cells, two Rotary Body Missile launchers and a large mid-hull section that will allow more weapons to be incorporated into the warship.

Last December, the Congressional Research Service report questioned the cost value of the new destroyer program. Specifically, the report examined whether the Navy’s budget would allow for the desired number of DDG(X) acquisitions while ensuring other programs are similarly funded: “An October 2023 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report found the average acquisition cost of DDG(X) to be flat Fiscal Year 2023.” In dollar terms, it is between $3.2 billion and $3.5 billion, about thirty-three percent to forty percent above the Navy’s estimate of $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion. billion. CBO and Navy estimates range from forty-five percent to fifty-nine percent and nine to fourteen percent, respectively; “This is more than the approximately $2.2 billion acquisition cost of DDG-51.”

Despite the rising costs of the DDG(X) program, the requirement for a new generation destroyer class could play an important role in the event of a conflict in the South China Sea.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya CarlinHe is a National Security Writer for National Interest, an analyst at the Center for Security Policy, and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. He has signatures in many publications such as The National Interest, Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel. You can follow him on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

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