DDG(X)
{{Short description|U.S. Navy program to develop a class of principal surface combatants}}
{{Confused|DD(X)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = DDG(X) SNA 2022.png | Ship caption = DDG(X) concept as presented in the 2022 Surface Navy Association symposium }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = DDG(X) | Builders = | Operators = {{naval|United States}} | Class before = * Ticonderoga-class cruiser Flight II | Class after = | Subclasses = | Cost = | In service range = | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = (conceptual) | Ship class = | Ship type = Guided-missile destroyer | Ship tonnage = {{cvt|13500|MT|LT|sigfig=4|order=flip}} | Ship displacement = | Ship length = | Ship beam = | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = Integrated Power System | Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = | Ship troops = | Ship complement = | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = * AN/SPY-6(V)1 AESA 3D radar
| Ship EW = | Ship armament = * 5-inch (127-mm)/62 cal Mk 45 Mod 4
| Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = Flight deck and enclosed hangar | Ship notes = }} |
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 {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser}}s and 28 Flight I/II {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer}}s.{{cite report |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11679 |title=Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress |work=Congressional Research Service |date=9 December 2021}}{{Cite web |date=26 August 2022 |title=Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress |url=https://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/RL32109.pdf |website=Congressional Research Service}} 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 {{sclass|Zumwalt|destroyer}}s. 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.{{cite web |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/01/12/navy-unveils-next-generation-ddgx-warship-concept-with-hypersonic-missiles-lasers |title=Navy Unveils Next-Generation DDG(X) Warship Concept with Hypersonic Missiles, Lasers |work=US Naval Institute |date=12 January 2022}}{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Justin |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/navy-unveils-latest-concept-for-future-destroyer-ddgx/ |title=Navy unveils latest concept for future destroyer, DDG(X) |work=Breaking Defense |date=12 January 2022}}
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 {{sclass|Spruance| destroyer|1}} hulls, they had limited upgrade potential due to space, weight, and power margins.{{cite report |last=O'Rourke |first=Ronald |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/n/navy-ddx-cgx-programs.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914224042/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/n/navy-ddx-cgx-programs.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 September 2015 |title=Navy DD(X) and CG(X) Programs: Background and Issues for Congress |work=Congressional Research Service Report for Congress |date=31 May 2005}}{{cite report |url=https://history.defense.gov/Portals/70/Documents/quadrennial/QDR2010.pdf?ver=vVJYRVwNdnGb_00ixF0UfQ%3d%3d |title=2010 Quadrennial Defense Review |work=Department of Defense |date=February 2010}}
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.{{cite news |last=Drew |first=Christopher |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/business/09defense.html?_r=1&em |title=Contractors Agree on Deal to Build Stealth Destroyer |work=The New York Times |date=8 April 2009}} 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.{{cite web |last=Osborn |first=Kris |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/04/09/navy-makes-plans-for-new-destroyer-for-2030s.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm |title=Navy Makes Plans for New Destroyer for 2030s |work=Military.com |date=4 April 2014}} 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.{{cite web |last=Freedberg Jr. |first=Sydney |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2018/07/destroyers-maxed-out-navy-looks-to-new-hulls-power-for-radars-lasers/ |title=Destroyers Maxed Out, Navy Looks To New Hulls: Power For Radars & Lasers |work=Breaking Defense |date=18 July 2018}}{{cite web |last=Eckstein |first=Megan |url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/06/04/navy-creates-ddgx-program-office-after-years-of-delays-for-large-combatant-replacement/ |title=US Navy creates DDG(X) program office after years of delays for large combatant replacement |work=DefenseNews |date=4 June 2021}} In February 2022, Gibbs & Cox was contracted to provide design and engineering support.{{cite web |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/usn-enlists-gibbs-cox-for-ddgx-design-and-engineer/ |title=USN enlists Gibbs & Cox for DDG(X) design and engineering support |work=Shephard Media |date=18 February 2022}} The Navy is retaining the lead design role.{{Cite web |last=Peniston |first=Bradley |title=CNO: Navy Is Equipping Ships with a Software Arsenal, Taking Lead on New Destroyer Design |url=https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2022/09/cno-navy-equipping-ships-software-arsenal-taking-lead-new-destroyer-design/377352/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Defense One |date=19 September 2022 |language=en}}
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 {{cvt|13500|MT|LT|sigfig=4|order=flip}}, 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.{{cite web |title= Report to Congress on Navy's Next-Generation Destroyer |url= https://news.usni.org/2022/12/01/report-to-congress-on-navys-next-generation-destroyer |work=USNI News |date=1 December 2022}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/09/17/the-us-navy-is-going-to-need-a-bigger-boat-and-its-getting-ready-to-buy-one/ |title=The Navy Is Going To Need A Bigger Boat And It's Getting Ready To Buy One |work=Defense News |date=17 September 2018}}
=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.{{cite web |title=Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11679 |website=crsreports.congress.gov |access-date=14 May 2023 |date=23 March 2023}} 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 three 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sea-air-space-2023/2023/04/lockheed-martin-developing-new-larger-vls-for-ddgx/|title=Lockheed Martin Developing New, Larger VLS For DDG(X)|first=Aaron-Matthew|last=Lariosa|date=14 April 2023|work=Navalnews.com|access-date=2023-04-16}}
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.
A new rendering released by Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships and obtained by Naval News in early January 2025 shows DDG(X) omitting the 5-inch Mark 45 naval gun entirely.Carter, Johnston (12 Jan 2025). https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sna-2025/2025/01/ddgx-us-navy-next-gen-destroyer-loses-main-gun-in-latest-rendering/ Navalnews.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Team-Ships/PEO-Ships/DDG-X/ DDG(X) NAVSEA page]