Article Summary and Key Points: The DDG(X), the U.S. Navy’s next-generation guided-missile destroyer, is designed to replace aging Ticonderoga-class cruisers and older Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Incorporating advanced technology such as integrated power systems, directed-energy weapons, and hypersonic missiles, the DDG(X) aims to revolutionize naval warfare capabilities.
Key Point #1 – Despite promising significant advancements, the program faces potential challenges, including possible cost overruns, technological integration risks, shipbuilding capacity concerns, and operational requirements alignment.
Key Point #2 – Effective management and strategic planning will be essential to overcome these hurdles, ensuring the DDG(X) successfully transitions into service and bolsters American naval superiority well into the future.
Inside the Navy’s New DDG(X): The Next-Gen Destroyer Changing Naval Warfare
The DDG(X) destroyer, also known as the Next-Generation Guided-Missile Destroyer, promises to be a significant leap forward in naval warfare technology. The United States Navy is developing this new class of surface combatants to succeed the aging Ticonderoga-class cruisers and the earlier flights of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
The DDG(X) program aims to address the evolving threats and operational requirements of the 21st century, incorporating advanced technologies and design features to enhance the Navy’s capabilities. However, like any ambitious defense program, the DDG(X) faces several potential issues that could impact its development and deployment.
The Navy Needs a New Destroyer
The DDG(X) program emerged from the need to replace the Ticonderoga-class cruisers and the older Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which have been the backbone of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet for decades.
The Ticonderoga-class cruisers, built on the Spruance-class destroyer hulls, have limited upgrade potential due to space, weight, and power constraints. Similarly, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, while highly capable, have reached their maximum growth potential with the latest Flight III variant.
The Navy’s Large Surface Combatant (LSC) initiative, which followed the cancellation of the CG(X) program and the curtailment of the Zumwalt-class destroyer procurement, laid the groundwork for the DDG(X) program. The DDG(X) program office was established in June 2021, and in February 2022, the government contracted Gibbs & Cox to provide design and engineering support. The Navy retains the lead design role, ensuring that the DDG(X) meets its operational requirements and integrates seamlessly with existing and future naval assets.
The Final Say in American Naval Superiority
The DDG(X) is designed to be a versatile and highly capable platform, incorporating advanced sensors, weapons, and power systems. The ship’s hull design is being tested at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock and NSWC Philadelphia, and various configurations are being evaluated to optimize performance.
The 2022 Surface Warfare Symposium concept depicts an angular hull form with a displacement of approximately 13,290 long tons (13,500 metric tons), featuring a conventional bow and a superstructure reminiscent of the Zumwalt-class destroyer.
One of the key features of the DDG(X) is its Integrated Power System (IPS), which is designed to meet the increased power generation demands of advanced weapons and sensors. The IPS, similar to the system used in the Zumwalt-class destroyers, replaces traditional gas-turbine propulsion with an advanced turbo-electric drive system. This system provides more than 75 megawatts of power, enabling the DDG(X) to support directed-energy weapons, hypersonic missiles, and other high-energy systems.
The DDG(X) will be equipped with the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which offers enhanced detection and tracking capabilities compared to previous radar systems.
The ship will also feature the AN/SPQ-9B surface search and fire-control radar, the AN/SPG-62 fire-control radar, and a variety of other sensors and processing systems. The DDG(X) will be armed with a 5-inch (127-mm)/62 caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 gun, multiple Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) with 96 cells, RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, and Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes. Additionally, the ship will have the potential to be upgraded with 150/600kW lasers.
This Project Has Some Big Problems To Fix
While the DDG(X) program promises significant advancements in naval warfare, it also faces several potential issues that could impact its development and deployment. With several Naval projects ending in failure due to ballooning costs and industrial issues, there are still several hurdles the DDG(X) has to overcome to succeed.
One of the primary concerns with the DDG(X) program is the potential for cost overruns. The development of advanced technologies and the integration of new systems can lead to unforeseen expenses.
The Navy’s proposed FY2025 budget requests $102.8 million in research and development funding for the program, but the total procurement cost remains uncertain. Historical precedents, such as the Zumwalt-class destroyers, faced significant cost increases. These precedents highlight the risk of budget overruns in complex defense programs.
The DDG(X) program involves the integration of cutting-edge technologies, including the IPS, directed-energy weapons, and hypersonic missiles. While these technologies offer substantial benefits, they also come with inherent risks. The successful development and integration of these systems require extensive testing and validation. Any delays or failures in these processes could impact the program’s timeline and overall effectiveness.
The construction of the DDG(X) destroyers will rely on the capacity and capabilities of the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. General Dynamics/Bath Iron Works (GD/BIW) and Huntington Ingalls Industries/Ingalls Shipbuilding (HII/Ingalls) are the primary shipbuilders for Navy surface combatants.
Ensuring that these shipyards have the necessary resources, workforce, and infrastructure to meet the demands of the DDG(X) program is crucial. Any disruptions or limitations in the industrial base could affect the production schedule and delivery of the ships.
Defining and meeting the operational requirements for the DDG(X) is another potential challenge. The Navy must accurately identify the capabilities needed to address current and future threats.
This includes ensuring that the DDG(X) can effectively operate in contested environments, support joint and coalition operations, and integrate with other naval and joint forces. Any misalignment between the ship’s capabilities and operational needs could reduce its effectiveness and value to the fleet.
The transition from the current fleet of Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the DDG(X) will require careful planning and execution. The Navy aims to procure the first DDG(X) in FY2032, with a three-year overlap between the start of DDG(X) procurement and the end of DDG-51 procurement.
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct 2, 2019) The guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) celebrates the 10th anniversary of the ship’s commissioning while transiting the South China Sea. Named after Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer, the Father of Aegis, (FOA), the crew stands in formation in his namesake. Wayne E. Meyer is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to support regional stability, reassure partners and allies, and maintain a presence postured to respond to any crisis ranging from humanitarian assistance to contingency operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rawad Madanat/Released)
Managing this transition smoothly is essential to maintaining the Navy’s operational readiness and avoiding gaps in capability.
Wait and See on DDG(X)
The DDG(X) destroyer is an ambitious project incorporating advanced technologies and design features to enhance the U.S. Navy’s capabilities. While the program promises significant benefits, it also faces several potential issues that could impact its development and deployment.
DDG(X). Image Credit: U.S. Navy.
Addressing these challenges will require careful planning, robust testing and validation, and effective management of resources and timelines. If successful, the DDG(X) will play a critical role in ensuring the Navy’s dominance in the maritime domain for decades to come.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
