Is the US Navy’s new DDG(X) destroyer facing cancellation?
An early artist's impression of what the USN's next-generation large surface combatant DDG(X) might look like. Much bigger than existing destroyers it will have the size, weight and power capacity to host future weapons, a larger munitions inventory and a longer endurance at sea. (Image: USN)
The projected costs for the DDG(X) destroyer project are spiralling, its technologies need to be matured and the USN has more pressing priorities. If the programme begins to repeat some of the mistakes made on previous major surface combatant procurements then DDG(X) is likely to face the axe.
The USN’s next-generation Large Surface Combatant programme, known as DDG(X), is intended to replace the fleet’s ageing Ticonderoga-class (CG-47) cruisers and – eventually – all its Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyers.
However, the outlook for the project remains grim. While is still in its early stages there are diverging cost estimates on the programme differing by up to $1 billion per ship. Meanwhile the navy is preoccupied dealing with an availability crisis with its submarine fleet and problems with its industrial base. A costly major surface combatant programme looming on the horizon is not what the USN needs on its
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