Programs

Arleigh Burke class AEGIS Destroyers

This class of ships is named for the U.S. Navy’s most famous destroyer squadron combat commander—and three-term Chief of Naval Operations—Admiral Arleigh Burke. Admiral Burke was in attendance for the commissioning of the first ship in the class, USS Arleigh Burke   (DDG 51) on July 4, 1991. BIW is the lead yard for DDG 51 construction, widely recognized as the most successful surface shipbuilding program of the post-World War II years.

The DDG 51 multi-mission guided missile destroyer operates independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups and amphibious readiness groups, providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface environments. Designed for survivability, the ship incorporates all-steel construction and, like most modern U.S. surface combatants, has gas turbine propulsion.

The ship’s combat capabilities center around the Navy’s Aegis Weapon System, the world’s foremost integrated naval-weapon system. The combination of the AEGIS combat system, the Vertical Launching System, an advanced anti-submarine warfare system, two embarked MH-60R helicopters, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk, gives the Arleigh Burke class outstanding combat capability and survivability characteristics while considering procurement and life-cycle support costs.

The DDG 51 class comprises four separate variants or “Flights.” DDGs 51–71 represent the original design and are designated as Flight I ships; DDGs 72–78 are Flight II ships; DDGs 79–119 are Flight IIA ships in service and the flight will continue through DDGs 124 and 127. The Flight III baseline will begin with DDGs 125–126, and continue with DDGs 128 and following.

DDG 51 Class Flight I & II

DDG 51 Class Flight IIA

 

Ship Characteristics

Metric Details
Length Overall 510 feet (156 meters)
Beam – Waterline 59 feet (18 meters)
Displacement – Full Load 9,217 tons (9,363 metric tons)
Power Plant Four General electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines; two shafts; two CRP propellers; 100,000 shaft horsepower
Speed in excess of 30 knots
Crew 380 total (32 Officers, 27 CPO, 321 OEM)
Surveillance SPY-1D Phased Array Radar and Aegis Combat System (Lockheed Martin)
Aircraft Two embarked SH-60 helicopters (ASW operations); RAST
Armament Two Mk 41 Vertical Launchers (VLS) with Standard, Vertical Launch ASROC & Tomahawk ASM/LAM missiles; 5-in/54 Mk-45 gun; two CIWS; six Mk-46 torpedo tubes

The DDG 51 Flight III upgrade is centered on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar system that provides improved capability over DDG 51 Flight IIA ships. The AMDR enables Flight III ships to simultaneously perform Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) and Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), which satisfies the Navy’s critical need for an enhanced surface combatant Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability.

For a list of Bath-built DDG 51s click here, and a photo gallery click here.

Zumwalt Class Destroyers

The Zumwalt-class (DDG 1000) is the largest and most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world. Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers designed to strengthen naval power from the sea. The Zumwalt-class destroyer is capable of performing a range of deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command and control missions while allowing the Navy to evolve with new systems and missions.

DDG 1000 introduces a wide range of new technologies that generate tangible breakthroughs in performance. DDG 1000 is a stealthy ship with a minimal radar signature and an intrinsically quiet tumblehome hull form and wave-piercing bow. Generating far more power than the DDG 51 ships, DDG 1000 is suitable for future deployment of systems such as directed energy weapons and electromagnetic railguns. Advances proven out on DDG 1000 such as Electric Drive/Integrated Power Systems, ship control and damage control automation, a totally integrated, ship-wide command and control system, and low-observable topside designs are potentially applicable to other shipbuilding programs.

The first of the class, Zumwalt, was delivered to the Navy on May 20, 2016. The second ship of the class, Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), was delivered April 24, 2018. The third ship of the class, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002), was delivered on November 17, 2021. For a photo gallery, click here.

Ship Characteristics

Metric Details
Length 610 feet
Beam 80.7 feet
Draft 27.6 feet
Speed 30 knots
Displacement 15,761 long tons
Installed Power 78 megawatts
Crew Size 158 – Includes Aviation Detachment