The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of future USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), the lead ship of the Navy’s next-generation of multimission surface combatants, May 20. USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is tailored for sustained operations in the littorals and land attack, and will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces, and operate as an integral part of joint and combined expeditionary forces.
Ship delivery follows extensive tests, trials and demonstrations of the ship’s hull, mechanical, and electrical systems including the ship’s boat handling, anchor and mooring systems as well as major demonstrations of the damage control, ballasting, navigation and communications systems.
«Today represents a significant achievement for not only the DDG-1000 program and shipbuilding team but for the entire U.S. Navy», said Rear Admiral (select) Jim Downey, DDG-1000 program manager, Program Executive Office Ships. «This impressive ship incorporates a new design alongside the integration of sophisticated new technologies that will lead the Navy into the next generation of capabilities».
The 610-foot/186-meter, wave-piercing tumblehome ship design provides a wide array of advancements. The shape of the superstructure and the arrangement of its antennas significantly reduce radar cross section, making the ship less visible to enemy radar at sea.
USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is the first U.S. Navy surface combatant to employ an innovative and highly survivable Integrated Power System (IPS) distributing 1000 volts of direct current across the ship. The IPS’ unique architectural capabilities include the ability to allocate all 78 megawatts of installed power to propulsion, ship’s service, and combat system loads from the same gas turbine prime movers based on operational requirements. Each ship in the class features a battery of two Advanced Gun Systems, capable of firing Long-Range Land Attack Projectiles (LRLAP) that reach up to 63 nautical miles/72.5 miles/116.6 km, providing three-fold range improvement in naval surface fires coverage. Each ship is equipped with eighty Advanced Vertical Launch System cells for Tomahawk missiles, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, Standard Missiles, and Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets (ASROC) (VLA).
The ship will employ active and passive sensors and a Multi-Function Radar (MFR) capable of conducting area air surveillance, including over-land, throughout the extremely difficult and cluttered sea-land interface.
Following delivery and a crew certification period at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works, the ship will be commissioned in Baltimore October 15. Zumwalt will then transit to her homeport in San Diego in late 2016 where Mission Systems Activation will continue in parallel with a Post Delivery Availability.
«Zumwalt’s crew has diligently trained for months in preparation of this day and they are ready and excited to take charge of this ship on behalf of the U.S. Navy», said Captain James Kirk, commanding officer of future Zumwalt. «These are 143 of our nation’s finest men and women who continue to honor Admiral Zumwalt’s namesake with their dedication to bringing this ship to life».
General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works (BIW) is also constructing follow-on ships, the future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) and USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002).
As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.
The U.S. Navy continually monitors force readiness and ability to provide the most robust, capable maritime force possible. Stationing destroyers in a West Coast port supports rebalance to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, placing our most advanced capabilities and greater capacity in that vital theater. By 2020, approximately 60 percent of U.S. Navy ships and aircraft will be based in the region.
Features unique to DDG 1000:
- Eighty peripheral Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, two Advanced Gun System (AGS) 155-mm guns, and two 30-mm Close In Guns (CIGs);
- A stern boat ramp for two 7-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), designed with room for two 11-meter RHIBs;
- Aviation capacity for two MH-60R or one MH-60R and 3 VT Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs);
- It will be powered by an Integrated Power System (IPS) with an Integrated Fight Through Power (IFTP). This is created by an Advanced Induction Motor (AIM);
- A superstructure with integrated apertures and low signature profile;
- Advanced sensors including a SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar;
- A wave-piercing «Tumblehome» hull form.
Ship Characteristics
| Length | 610 feet/186 m |
| Beam | 80.7 feet/24.6 m |
| Draft | 27.6 feet/8.4 m |
| Displacement | 15,761 long tonnes/16,014 metric tonnes |
| Speed | 30 knots/34.5 mph/55.5 km/h |
| Installed Power | 104,600 hp/78 MW |
| Crew Size | 158 – Includes Aviation Detachment |
Next-generation destroyer Zumwalt (DDG-1000) underway for the first time conducting at-sea tests and trials in the Atlantic Ocean on December 7, 2015
Ships
| Ship | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Homeport |
| USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) | 11-17-2011 | 10-28-2013 | 10-15-2016 | San Diego |
| USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) | 05-23-2013 | |||
| USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) |
