Navy of the Future

The DD(X) destroyer is at the heart of the DD(X) program. When put into service (it is currently in the construction phase), it will replace the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates and Spruance class destroyers.
DD(X) will provide land attack support for ground forces as well as perform antiair, antisurface and undersea warfare.

The DD(X) destroyer is scheduled to have several advanced technology features:

Tumblehome Hull Form: This low-to-the water hull slopes inward from above the waterline reducing the hull’s exposure to waves. As a result, there is less ship-rocking motion to help reduce radar identification by other ships.

All-Electric Drive: Four prime movers (engines) will provide power to all the ship’s systems. Compared to present power configurations, the all-electric drive will eliminate driveshaft/reduction gears, thus reducing the acoustic signature by which other ships can identify a vessel. There will also be 10 times more available power for all the ship’s systems compared to the power capabilities of conventional ships. This additional power will also be necessary for future electronic-based weaponry.

Peripheral Vertical Launch System (PVLS): The PVLS will be made up of clusters of missile magazines (four missiles/launchers in each cluster) located between layers of steel alongside the periphery of the hull.

• The advantage of the PVLS versus locating the VLS missile magazines in the center of the ship, as has traditionally been done, is very simple: In the event a magazine is struck by an incoming missile, there is reduced risk that other magazines will be affected.
• The PVLS will be able to launch several types of missiles:
  • Tomahawk land attack missiles
  • Standard missiles for local air defense
  • Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles for airborne and seaborne attacks
  • Antisubmarine rockets

Conventional Weaponry: DD(X) will be armed with an impressive array of traditional weaponry including:

• Two 40mm close-in gun systems for air and surface attacks
• Two 155mm guns (advanced gun systems) with:
  • 100 nautical mile range
  • 12 rounds/minute firing capability
  • Fully automated handling and storage system
  • GPS-guided Long Range Land Attack Projectiles

Future Weaponry: DD(X) will be a platform for varied-intensity weapons capable of damaging an enemy ship versus destroying it, depending on the power output of the weapon. Future weapons could include:

• Free electron lasers utilizing photons traveling at light speed, providing precise targeting
• High-powered microwaves utilizing radio frequency energy
• Electromagnetic rail guns utilizing electricity and magnetic fields

Radar Suite: AN/SPY-3 multifunction radar will combine the functions formerly provided by five separate radar systems, reducing equipment and manpower costs. The radar will detect the most advanced, low-observable anti-ship cruise missiles, especially in adverse environmental conditions. To provide as small a signature as possible to other ships, phased array radar antennas will be incorporated into the DD(X)’s composite superstructure. (Composite material cannot currently be identified by radar.)

Crew: Many of the functions performed by crews on conventional destroyers will be automated on the DD(X). That means a reduction in crew size – 330 fewer sailors than the Spruance class destroyers and 200 fewer sailors than the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates. The crew will also be able to focus on fighting versus ship maintenance.