Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
Jack H. Lucas Arleigh Burke-class flight III destroyer. (Photo: US Navy)
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
The next steps of the acquisition of Arleigh Burke (Flight III - DDG 51) destroyers remain unclear as the US Navy (USN) is currently evaluating its in-service fleet and defining what capabilities it will prioritise to face tomorrow’s threats.
Although the FY2025 Continuing Resolution (CR) provided the branch with an additional US$1.6 billion for a third Arleigh Burke-class vessel, John Phelan, Secretary of the US Navy could not provide an estimated date for the award of the contract.
“We are in the midst of analysing the entire force posture and our manned-unmanned balance, and what that should look like and
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