Worlds most powerful and most expensive Destroyer – Zumwalt Class Destroyer\r
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Zumwalt Class destroyers can trace history back to 2001 when US Navy was looking at replacing older cruisers and destroyers nearing their end of service life. Focus was on 21st century warship, so many requirements had to be filled. Stealth, automation and low firepower where the key components of new design requirements. \r
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Program was financed under DD-21 or 21st century Destroyer. And what a destroyer it is. Originally Destroyer was planned to be joined by even large and far more capable CGX of 21st century cruiser, some 220m long, 24000 GRT warship would be armed with upwards of 500 strike and defence missiles, and DD-21 would have been more of a support combatant, slightly larger but equally well armed, designed to be more of jack of all trades. \r
14800 ton Zumwalt Destroyer was designed to be as stealthy and well-armed, designed to deal with any air threat, surface combatant and even support allied troops deep in the enemy territory using two 155mm long range naval cannons. \r
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However as role of the ship wasnt clearly defined and Navy needed more capability with-in single platform costs escalated. Initially entire DD-21 destroyer program was budgeted @$10 billion for R&D as well as first test bed. However as years passed to costs escalated to a point where number of ships were reduced to be affordable for US Navys increasingly stagnant budget. \r
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Initially requirement for 32 ships went down to 22, and in 2008 this went down to 7, however as budget escalated by new only 3 ships were ordered at cost of ~$4 billion per unit, way more than projected $1.9 billion per unit in 2001. However due to entire Zumwalt program cost of $22.5 billion, ual cost per ship have increased to staggering $7.5 billion. \r
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Making Zumwalt Class Destroyers most expensive destroyers in history!!! Even if US were to order remaining 19 warships @ projected cost of $3.0 billion these would still be most expensive destroyers ever. \r
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The financial lesson from Zumlwat class has somewhat stalled 21st century Cruiser program, which supposed to replace Ticonderoga class cruisers. However due to massive costs of Zumwalt R&D, it is highly likely new class of cruisers wont be joining US Navy before 2035 or even 2040. \r
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However, Zumwalt wont end up being overpriced plucked chicken! Itll be one of the most sophisticated, most powerful destroyers ever engineered. \r
Weapons fit alone is impressive. Destroyer is armed with 80 MK57 VLS fitted along the sides of the ship instead usual centre position, increasing the survivability. Typical weapon load will consist of 16 ASROC Missiles, up to 24 Tomahawk missiles, which be supplemented by up to 16 LRASM, provision for up to 16 RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 to provide ballistic missile defence capability, however never installed and up to 64 quad packed Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles. Up to 16 (8) Harpoon missiles will be also carried at the stern of the ship giving Zumwalt class additional strike capability should it need it. \r
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Two 155mm Advanced Gun Systems will provide provisional long range artillery support, provisional cause Zumwalt Class will be the first warship in any navy to carry advanced Rail guns capable of firing rounds at Mach 7 up to 200km range, however integration of these isnt expected before 2030. Laser Close-In Weapon Systems will also be installed around 2027/8 to provide additional layer of defence, most likely replacing current Bofors 57mm Mk IV cannons or Bushmaster 30mm cannons.\r
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Three Zumwalt Class Destroyers are to enter service, Zumwalt DDG-1000, Michael Monsoor DDG-1001 and Lyndon B. Johnson DDG1002. \r
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Russia and China are also building advanced very large destroyers/cruisers, which now might prompt US to commit to 24000 ton CGX after all. \r
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Displacement: 14,798 t \r
Length: 180 m\r
Beam: 24.6 m\r
Draft: 8.4 m\r
Propulsion: • 2 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines 35.4 MW each driving Curtiss-Wright electric generators\r
• 2 × Rolls-Royce RR4500 turbine generators (3.8 MW (5,100 hp) each) \r
• 2 × propellers driven by electric motors\r
• Total: 78 MW installed power \r
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Speed: In excess of 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)\r
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Complement: 140\r
Sensors and processing systems: AN/SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar (MFR) (X band ive electronically scanned array) \r
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Armament: 20 × MK 57 VLS modules, with a total of 80 launch cells\r
• RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), 4 per cell\r
• Tical Tomahawk, 1 per cell\r
• Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Missile (ASROC), 1 per cell\r
• 2 × 155 mm (6 in)/62 caliber Advanced Gun System; 920 × 155 mm rounds, 70–100 LRLAP rounds\r
• 2 × 30 mm (1.2 in) Mk 46 Mod 2 Gun Wea
