Unmanned Cruiser
Unmanned Cruiser
Polmar the sinking of the Zumwalt
Polmar the sinking of the Zumwalt
While no "final" The decision was revealed, the signs "inside the Beltway" that are long gestation of the Navy DDG 1000 Zumwalt class destroyer program end with only two ships. In fact, there are also rumors that even the two vessels will not be built.
Contracts have been awarded during the first two destroyers – authorized in fiscal year 2007 budget – the General Dynamics / Bath Iron Works (Maine) and Northrop Grumman (Pascagoula, Mississippi). Originally Navy planned a class of 32 of these CEOs, but, as already reported here, last year the Navy cut the program to seven ships, but the requirement of 32 ships was still "on the books."
Navy's leadership, both uniformed and civilian, has been lackluster in its support of the DGA 1000 class. In fact, the current Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead, when recently asked Congress for what he believes most of the new ships "feature important would be, said of the reduced strength for the boats.
The new "destroyers" are to have a full load displacement of almost 15,000 tons and a total length of 600 feet – the size of a cruise in many respects. Armed with two 155-mm rapid fire guns (with a number of projectiles fired more than 75 miles guided missiles and 80 Tomahawk standard or equivalent, and is equipped with a great infrastructure and service unmanned helicopters, boats, would be very capable multipurpose units.
The price has become a deal breaker "for some of those involved in the shipbuilding process. Estimates Navy that the first two ships will cost 3.3 billion U.S. dollars each, with monitoring of ships at a cost of $ 2.5 billion. This compares with last of 62 Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) destroyers having a cost approximately 1.2 million each.
]]> The most likely, the short term is the alternative to DDG 1000 to resume construction of the Burkes. The Navy now has 62 in the fleet and under construction. The former chief of naval operations, and now head of state Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has said repeatedly that the Navy does not need additional Burke class ships. And, restarting that line and the update ships, give them a pricetag of about $ 2 million each. (The original design dates from 1979 Burke. military uniform)
Moreover, according to Navy data, even building two Burkes per year, and dividing the purchase between the two yards, you may not allow maintaining Bath Iron Works yard in business.
The lack of support for the Navy DDG 1000 is seen by some observers as a reason to accelerate next surface combatant Navy, the CG (X) cruise missile, which is optimized for the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) role. This seems ironic because did not require the Navy for the DDG 1000 to have that role, although its new design radars could have been developed with that capability. Of course, even after the vessels have completed their radar and fire control systems could be upgraded for the BMD role. That is exactly what is being done now Aegis cruisers for the improvement of Ticonderoga (CG 47) class and Burke class destroyers.
In addition, the CG (X) is getting significant support in Congress particularly representatives Gene Taylor (D-MISS) and Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), who want to provide nuclear propulsion. They have even proposed a new generation Burke-class nuclear-powered vessels! Both proposals are ludicrous when you look at the percentage of U.S. oil consumption by the Department of Defense (less than 2 percent) and the percentage of that which is used to drive the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships (about 8 percent of boots tactics). Taking into account the additional cost for the design and construction of nuclear powered vessels, adding the cost of recruiting, training and retention of qualified personnel, nuclear, and including the cost of disposing of ships, and the idea does not hold water.
In addition, the design of DDG 1000 base could become the CG (X) – obviously not CG (X) N – with modifications only to ships and radar fire control systems. The ships have a significant growth margin and deleting the two 155-mm guns could provide space for additional missiles or other characteristics advanced.
The DDG 1000 is not, in this writer's opinion, the best surface combatant that could have occurred at this time. But considering the time and money who have invested in developing the DDG 1000 design and ship systems, and the need for Navy surface combat bonus, the DDG 1000 is now, most than the available alternatives.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 at 9:20 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.