The U.S. Navy is accelerating the development of its next-generation Aegis destroyer, DDG(X), in an effort to regain a technological edge in future naval warfare. However, its design has been accused of "copying" China's Type 055's heavy vertical launch system, and its traditional "clothesline" mast design has been mocked as a symbol of outdated technology. More notably, the development timeline for DDG(X) is nearly 20 years behind China's equivalent warships, highlighting the U.S. military's difficulties in catching up technologically.

According to a recent report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), DDG(X) will have a displacement of 14,500 tons, an increase of 1,000 tons from the original design, and will be equipped with 96 VLS cells, 32 of which can be replaced by 12 large missile launch slots, supporting the launch of heavier missiles. This configuration is highly similar to the 112-cell heavy VLS units on China's Type 055 destroyers, which were developed and commissioned in the early 2010s, while DDG(X) is planned to begin procurement in the early 2030s, lagging by nearly 20 years. DDG(X) will also upgrade its power system to support directed energy weapons such as lasers and microwaves, to meet the needs of future high-tech warfare, but this goal has already been partially realized in Chinese ship designs.

According to a report from U.S. Defense News, the Navy allocated $1.335 billion for research and development of DDG(X) in fiscal year 2026. DDG(X) emphasizes reducing acoustic and infrared signatures to improve stealth, but its overall design is still limited by traditional thinking, making it difficult to gain an advantage against China's modernized warships. Although the U.S. aims to demonstrate technical ambition, it is hard to hide the awkwardness of being far behind in key areas, especially the reality that it is 20 years behind China in the timeline, highlighting the urgency of its technological catch-up efforts.

Why has this situation arisen?

Because the U.S. shipbuilding industry has been in decline for decades, characterized by reduced capacity, reliance on foreign components, and a fragile supply chain. Unlike China's self-sufficient industrial base, the U.S. heavily depends on imported materials and parts. Supply chain disruptions caused by global trade issues or geopolitical tensions could halt the production of DDG(X), delay progress, and increase costs.

The fragility of the supply chain has increased costs because the U.S. faces difficulties in procuring scarce components. Each DDG(X) is expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars, far exceeding the efficient and low-cost production of the Type 055.

Due to the reduction in operating shipyards and a shortage of skilled labor, the U.S. struggles to build advanced ships like DDG(X) on a large scale or on time, while China has already mass-produced and upgraded the Type 055.

In terms of technology, DDG(X) continues to use the outdated Aegis combat system originating from the 1980s. In contrast, the Type 055 employs advanced integrated radar systems, enhancing stealth, electronic warfare, and sensor fusion capabilities.

The Type 055 features advanced stealth characteristics, including an integrated mast design. However, DDG(X) retains the traditional "clothesline" mast, criticized as outdated and with poor stealth performance, weakening its survivability in modern combat.

Supply chain limitations restrict the U.S.'s ability to make adjustments or innovate during the project, leaving DDG(X) trapped in potentially obsolete paradigms, while the Type 055 continuously updates and improves its naval strategy.

The Type 055 is equipped with hypersonic anti-ship missiles, YJ-18 anti-ship missiles, and HQ-9B air defense missiles, offering greater range and versatility. While DDG(X) plans to accommodate larger missiles, its specific specifications remain unclear, and development delays caused by supply chain issues may result in insufficient firepower.

The Type 055 has 112 vertical launch units (VLS), exceeding DDG(X)'s 96, reflecting design choices and the limitations of U.S. production capacity.

The only area where the U.S. leads is in cost, even by a significant margin. Due to inefficient supply chains, labor shortages, and industrial decline, the cost of DDG(X) keeps rising, with each ship expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars. The Type 055 achieves stronger capabilities at a lower cost within China's efficient system, highlighting the poor cost-effectiveness of DDG(X). We even suspect that the U.S. shipbuilding defense industry has lost the ability to design advanced warships, especially with the difficulty of addressing the talent gap.

In summary, the decline of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, particularly its fragile supply chain, is the key reason for DDG(X)'s lag behind the Type 055. This industrial weakness not only delays progress and increases costs but also hinders technological and conceptual innovation, making it difficult for DDG(X) to catch up.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7535363025977770532/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author and is welcome to express your opinion through the [up/down] buttons below.