By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
Larger, powered up by compact, high-tech mobile sources of electricity, supported by a new generation of computing, networking and command and control .. .and most of all, armed with hypersonic weapons, are just a few of the Navy’s plans for its emerging next generation destroyer called the DDG (X).
Plans had previously been largely conceptual as the service continues to work on requirements, technological applications, design possibilities and concepts of operation, however now requirements are fully emerging and the Navy vision is beginning to take a little more shape and direction. The concept is to architect a new ship engineered with a new generation of weapons, sensors, computing and survivability while embracing the best of available cutting edge technologies and ensuring possibilities for ongoing upgrades and enhancements moving into the future
Initial thoughts were that the hull of the DDG(X) and many of the ship’s advanced technologies would primarily be based upon the evolving and upgradeable technologies now being built into Flight III DDG 51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers. To a large degree, it appears that may be the case, however in addition to this approach, the Navy is also interested in ensuring they build a large-enough hull with sufficient power-generating ability such that the new warship can accommodate hypersonic weapons, lasers and other high-power systems. An interesting quote from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday was previously cited in an essay from USNI saying that indeed larger space and next-generation hypersonic weapons are critical parts of the service’s plan for DDG (X).
“Our intent for DDG(X) would be much the same, that we would use a proven combat system on that ship. But we need a ship that has more space and allows for more weight and for capability growth over time. An example might be hypersonic missiles, just based on the size of those missiles. We couldn’t fit those in a current Arleigh Burke, or even a Flight III. [DDG(X) is] a deeper ship, if you will, from that standpoint,” Gilday said as quoted in USNI.
As part of this effort to arm the DDG(X) with a new generation of weapons, the Navy is working with Lockheed to engineer new, larger, hypersonic-capable Vertical Launch Systems. Sure enough this possibility, which is now moving along quickly with Lockheed, was anticipated by Navy weapons developers last year during the 2022 Surface Navy Association Symposium.
“You’ve got lasers, larger arrays, an upgraded X band radar, maybe additional VLS (Vertical Launch Systems) cells, large missile launchers, and also potentially an integrated power and energy system versus just an integrated a power system,” Katie Connelly, the deputy program manager for the DDG X program office, said at the 2022 Surface Navy Association Symposium. Much progress on the ship has already been made, as the Chief of Naval Operations has approved an initial set of potential requirements and the service has drafted a preliminary Capabilities Development Document (CDD) for the ship.
Progress with the new VLS is moving quickly, although there are not images or specific designs which are publicly available. However, Lockheed weapons developers say the concept is to supplement the existing Mk 41 VLS with a new, larger “growth”-oriented G-VLS.
“We call it Growth VLS. If you look at the requirements that we do research on the DDG(X), it says that it needs to have a traditional Mk.41 VLS, and that it needs to have a larger VLS that can have greater depth and larger diameter missiles stored in it. So Lockheed Martin, when they saw those requirements a couple of years ago, started investment,” a Lockheed official told Naval News in a recent essay.
The growth strategy is yet another aspect of the DDG (X) which was anticipated by Navy weapons developers, as growth could pertain to weapons-enhancing software upgrades, next-gen hypersonics or even new, as-of-yet-to exist weapons likely to emerge in the future.
Speaking about the DDG(X) in 2022, Connelly emphasized that the developmental strategy will be “evolutionary” as opposed to “revolutionary,” meaning it will strategically focus on key items in an incremental, measured way so as to maximize benefit and ensure success. The ship will be architected to accommodate new technologies, weapons and sensors as they emerge, in part through the addition of an electrical propulsion and energy generation technology called the Integrated Power System. Developers are even planning a “Destroyer Payload Module,” or large block which could be used to greatly lengthen the ship and add new technologies.
Conventional Prompt Strike Hypersonic Weapon
The US Navy is now taking large steps to arm its stealthy, high-tech Zumwalt-class destroyers with hypersonic weapons, a development expected to introduce new attack tactics, concepts of operation and high-speed attack.
The service will spend several years integrating the hypersonic Conventional Prompt Strike weapon onto the Zumwalts, a missile expected to travel at hypersonic speeds across dispersed, high-threat formations. The construction and integration is now already underway through a deal between the US Navy and HII aimed at integrating and activating the CPS onto ship. This is quite a technological process, as the high-tech ship likely needs to be adjusted with new launch and fire-control technology sufficient to support hypersonic attack. The weapons are expected to be operational on the Zumwalts by 2025.
Kris Osborn is President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
