Arleigh Burke Class Aegis Destroyer

The 29 proposed ship of the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers are designed as counterparts to the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruisers (DDG) in the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) role, though useful anti-ship and anti-submarine (ASW) capabilities are retained.

The class is intended to replace the 1960s-vintage Adams class and Coontz class DDGs starting in 1990, and it retains good commonality with the Ticonderoga class (radar and powerplant) though at only some three-quarters of the cost through reduced radar capability, one-quarter fewer missiles, three rather than four missile illuminators, and lack of embarked helicopter and ASW command/coordination facilities.

Recent operational experience by the US and British navies has resulted in reduced use of aluminum, and the introduction of 70 tons of Kevlar armor over vital spaces. The forward VLS has 29 cells, and that located aft has 61 cells for the careful blend of SAMs, SSMs and ASUWs. The omission of full helicopter facilities is now seen as a tactical limitation, and an Improved Arleigh Burke class is being designed to remedy this defect.

Features of the Arleigh Burke class DDG are four forward mounted planar arrays and VLS units fore and aft.

Last update: 2006-10-11 by <dennette@wiz-worx.com>