ARLEIGH BURKE-class guided missile destroyers have a full load displacement of 10,722 tons, are 506 feet in overall length and have a 62 foot beam. They are driven by two shafts powered by four LM2500 engines. Their maximum speed is in excess of 30 knots and they have a cruising range of 4,400 n. miles at 20 knots. The ships complement is about 30 officers and 302 enlisted personnel.
All ships of this class have the AEGIS air defense system with the SPY-1D phased array radar. They are armed with a 90-cell Vertical Launching System capable of storing and rapidly firing a mix of Standard, Tomahawk, and Vertically Launched ASROC (VLA) missiles for either Air Defense, Strike Warfare, or Anti-Submarine Warfare missions. Other armament includes the Harpoon anti-ship cruise missile, the 5"/54 gun with improvements that integrate it with the AEGIS weapon system, and the Phalanx Close-in Weapon System for self-defense.
The AN/SPY-1D Phased Array Radar incorporates significant advances in the detection capabilities of the AEGIS Weapons System, particularly in its resistance to enemy Electronic Counter-Measures (ECM). The AEGIS system is designed to counter all current and projected missile threats to the Navy's battle forces. A conventional, mechanically rotating radar "sees" a target when the radar beam strikes that target once during each 360 degree rotation of the antenna. A separate tracking radar is then required to engage each target. In contrast, the computer-controlled AN/SPY-1D phased array radar of the AEGIS system brings these functions together within one system. The four fixed arrays of "SPY" send out beams of electromagnetic energy in all directions simultaneously, continuously providing a search and tracking capability for hundreds of targets at the same time. Using the SPY-1D and her Mark 99 Fire Control System, these ships can guide vertically-launched Standard Missiles to intercept hostile aircraft and missiles at extended ranges. To provide point defense against hostile air targets, the ships are equipped with the Block 1 upgrade to the Phalanx Close-In-Weapons System (CIWS).
The ARLEIGH BURKE Class is also equipped with the Navy's latest ASUW Combat Systems. Land attack cruise missile capability is provided by Tomahawk Missiles, which are launched from her Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS). The MK 41 VLS is a multi-warfare missile launching system capable of firing a mix of missiles against airborne and surface threats. It is modular in design, with eight modules symmetrically grouped to form a launcher magazine. The modules contain all the necessary components for launching functions when interfaced with the ship's AEGIS Weapon System. VLS is a product of Martin-Marietta. The shorter range Harpoon Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles have a range in excess of 65 nautical miles which are fired from stand-alone launchers. The 5"/54 Caliber Gun, in conjunction with the Mark 34 Gun Weapon System, is an anti-ship weapon which can also be used for close-in air contacts or to support forces ashore with Naval Gun-Fire Support (NGFS).
The AN/SQQ-89 integrated ASW Suite is the most advanced anti-submarine warfare system in the world today. The AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array SONAR (TACTAS) provides extremely long-range passive detection of enemy submarines, and the AN/SQS-53C Hull-Mounted SONAR is used to actively and passively detect and locate submarine contacts. The ships also have the capability to land the SH-60B LAMPS Mark III Helicopter, which can link to the ship for support in the anti- submarine operations, as well as conducting over-the-horizon targeting missions. These systems are supplemented by the SLQ-32V(2) Electronic Warfare Suite, which includes passive detection systems and decoy countermeasures.
A new, large, waterplane area hull form significantly improves seakeeping ability. The hull form is designed to permit high speed in high sea states. The seakeeping hull form is characterized by considerable flair and a "V" shape appearance at the waterline.
The DDG-51 Class engineering plant represents an improvement in U.S. Naval gas turbine power plant control systems. Aircraft derivative gas turbines are used for both propulsion and ship service electrical power generation. A high degree of plant automation is achieved by an interconnected system of control consoles. Four of these control consoles are located in the Central Control Station (CCS) which is the nerve center of the DDG-51 Class engineering plant.
Four General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbine Engines (GTEs) provide ship's propulsion. Each Engine Room contains two LM2500s, one propulsion reduction gear to convert the high speed, low torque output of the gas turbine engine to low speed, high torque output suitable to drive the propulsion shafting, and the related support systems and equipment. The port shaft connects 2A and 2B GTEs in Main Engine Room #2 and the starboard shaft connects 1A and 1B GTEs in Main Engine Room #1. When viewed from the stern, the port shaft rotates counterclockwise and the starboard shaft clockwise, producing outward propeller rotation. Since the GTEs cannot be reversed, the Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) system provides ahead and astern thrust by hydraulically positioning the pitch of the propeller blades.
Each of the three Gas Turbine Generator Sets (GTGS) is rated at 2500 KW and supplies 450 VAC, three-phase, 60 HZ power. #1 GTGS is located in Auxiliary Machinery Room #1, #2 GTGS is located in Main Engine Room #2, and #3 GTGS is located in #3 Generator Room. The GTGS are separated from each other by three watertight bulkheads for survivability. Each Gas Turbine Generator Set is comprised of an Allison 501-K34 Gas Turbine Engine, a module assembly, a reduction gear assembly, and a generator.
The DDG-51 Class ships are specifically constructed from a survivability-enhanced design that affords passive protection to personnel and vital systems. This design provides protection against underwater shock, nuclear air blasts, fragment incursions into vital spaces, radar detection, electronic countermeasures, gun and missile attacks and a Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) attack. A comprehensive Collective Protection System guards against nuclear, chemical, or biological agents. The ship's damage control features and constructional design make the DDG-51 Class Destroyer the most "survivable" surface ship in the world.
In the ARLEIGH BURKE Class, all-steel construction is used. Extensive top-side armor is placed around vital combat systems and machinery spaces. The bulkheads are constructed of steel from the waterline to the pilot house. The bulkheads are designed with double-spaced plate construction for fragment protection. The frontal plate causes fragments to break up and the backup plate stops the fragments from causing further damage to the interior of the ship. Othe Aegis combat system equipment rooms are protected by Kevlar shielding. And, topside weight is reduced by incorporating an aluminum mast.
Acoustic, infrared, and radar signatures have been reduced, and vital shipboard systems are hardened against electro-magnetic pulse and over-pressure damage. State-of-the-art propulsion and damage control systems are managed by an all-new data multi-plexing system.
Ingalls Shipbuilding builds Aegis destroyers using modular techniques pioneered by the shipyard in the 1970's, and refined during two decades of assembly line construction of destroyers, cruisers, and amphibious assault ships. The ships also benefit from Ingalls' pioneered efforts to integrate advanced computer technology into ship design and construction. The design process for ships built at Ingalls is accomplished using a three-dimensional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system, which is linked with an integrated Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) production network of host-based computers and localized minicomputers throughout the shipyard. Ingalls' system produces digital data used by the CAM equipment to electronically direct the operation of numerically-controlled manufacturing equipment cutting steel plates, bending pipe, and laying out sheetmetal assemblies, and supporting other manufacturing processes. The technology significantly enhances design efficiency, and reduces the number of manual steps involved in converting design drawings to ship components, improving productivity and efficiency.
During the construction of a DDG-51 destroyer, hundreds of subassemblies are built and outfitted with piping sections, ventilation ducting and other shipboard hardware. These subassemblies are joined to form dozens of assemblies, which were then joined to form the ship's hull. During the assembly integration process, the ship is outfitted with larger equipment items, such as electrical panels, propulsion equipment, and generators. The ship's superstructure, or "deckhouse," is lifted atop the ship's midsection early in the assembly process, facilitating the early activation of electrical and electronic equipment. When the ship's hull integration was complete, the ship is moved over land via Ingalls' wheel-on-rail transfer system, and onto the shipyard's launch and recovery drydock.
The Navy had 38 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in its force, under construction, or under contract as of April 21, 1997, and planned to procure an additional 19 destroyers through the next decade, completing the 57 ship DDG-51 program by procuring the remaining ships through fiscal year 2004. The Navy plans to build 12 ships between 1997 and 2001 which are planned to be delivered to the fleet without cooperative engagement or theater ballistic missile defense capability.
DDG 51 class ships were originally planned to be procured at a rate of five per year. A forty-five percent reduction in the procurement rate since the program began has resulted in higher unit costs, lower efficiency, poor overhead planning, and questionable viability of shipbuilders and key subcontractors. To mitigate the risks associated with industrial base stability, the Navy proposes building at a more constant rate of three DDG 51s per year. Completion of the Arleigh Burke destroyer program, along with the earlier procurement of Ticonderoga-class cruisers, will allow the Navy to achieve a force of 84 Aegis-capable surface combatants by fiscal year 2010.
Congress appropriated $3.6 billion for construction of 4 new destroyers in fiscal year 1997 and gave the Navy authority to procure a total of 12 destroyers in fiscal years 1998 through 2001 using a multiyear acquisition strategy. In its biennial budget submission for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, the Navy requested about $2.8 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively, for a total procurement of six destroyers.
The FY 1999-2003 shipbuilding program included funds for 15 DDG-51-class destroyers, achieving the procurement objective of 57 of these ships. Twelve of the 15 DDG-51s will be procured under a multiyear acquisition strategy approved by Congress in the FY 1998 budget. The changes made to the shipbuilding program this year have achieved a stable procurement rate of three DDG-51s per year in FY 1999-2003. Advance procurement funds are programmed for FY 2001 to support the revised acquisition profile and a possible extension of the multiyear plan that was approved in FY 1998.
The first 28 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have a helicopter deck but no hanger or embarked helicopters. Ships in production Flight IIA, starting with USS OSCAR AUSTIN (DDG-79), also have landing and hangar facilities for operation of two multi-purpose Light Airborne Multipurpose System LAMPS MK III helicopters. This capability will be added for the remaining 29 ships of the class. The modifications require removal of Harpoon missile capability. Also beginning with this ship, the number of VLS cells will be increased from 90 to 96, and the Phalanx close-in weapon system will be replaced by vertical-launched the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles when they become available.
The DDG 51 baseline upgrade plan incrementally improves DDG 51 systems in a time phased manner. These improvements are centered on currently planned upgrades included in Aegis Baseline 6 Phase III, Baseline 7 Phase I, Baseline 7 Phase II, and selected implementation of Smart Ship technologies. Some of these capabilities are planned for backfit into CG 47 class ships. The Navy plans to upgrade the ship’s multifunctional phased array radar to improve its capabilities while operating in littoral environments and add new capabilities to permit sharing targeting data with other Navy and joint sensors and defend against theater ballistic missiles.
Navy destroyers have historically been retired by 30 years of service. In recent force planning for ships, the Navy uses notional estimated service lives of 35 years for Aegis-capable cruisers and all current destroyers.