Reference News Network, August 18 report. According to Japan Yahoo News, on August 17, the U.S. Congressional Research Service released a new report regarding the next-generation destroyer DDG(X) being developed by the U.S. Navy.

DDG(X) is intended to replace the currently in-service "Arleigh Burke" class destroyers and "Ticonderoga" class cruisers. The U.S. Navy's design goal is for DDG(X) to be operational starting in the early 2030s. In the 2026 fiscal year budget, the U.S. Navy requested $1.335 billion for the project development funds.

This report disclosed several new design details. Notably, the displacement of DDG(X) has increased to 14,500 tons, an increase of 1,000 tons compared to the 2024 design data. The current "Arleigh Burke" class destroyers have a displacement of about 9,700 tons, which is 4,800 tons less than the DDG(X) design data.

Additionally, in August 2024, following requests from senior U.S. Navy officials and fleets, the operational requirements for DDG(X) have been changed. The development department is pushing to enhance the ship's power supply capacity and speed performance to meet future needs for high-energy weapons such as laser weapons and electromagnetic railguns.

Data from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office released in January this year estimated that the average construction cost per DDG(X) ship is as high as $4.4 billion, while the Navy estimates the construction cost at around $3.3 billion, a 33% difference. This significant discrepancy may affect subsequent budget reviews.

Considering factors such as increased displacement, changes in requirements, differences in cost estimates, and design technical risks, there are renewed calls within Congress and the Navy to reconsider similar previously shelved follow-on ship plans, instead focusing on further upgrading the "Arleigh Burke" class destroyers to extend their service life.

The U.S. Navy is currently advancing the construction of the "Arleigh Burke" class Flight III destroyers, which can carry the latest SPY-6 radar and enhanced power systems. Although the design is close to its limit, it still has room for expansion. The U.S. Navy has accumulated experience in building more than 70 ships of the same type, with the cost of constructing a single ship being only about half that of DDG(X), giving it an advantage in cost-effectiveness. This may become a key factor influencing the future fleet composition. (Translated by Ma Xiaoyun)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7539737082705707555/

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