Posted on 09/17/2005 6:22:49 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy successfully achieved a significant milestone for the multimission DD(X) destroyer with the completion of a system-wide Critical Design Review (CDR) Sept. 14.
The review represents the culmination of years of design effort that encompassed the ship, mission system, human and shore designs that now comprise DD(X).
DD(X) is the Navy’s planned next-generation destroyer, tailored for land attack and inland support of joint and coalition forces. It is designed to meet Marine Corps, Army and special operations requirements for precision strike ashore, but also be able to outmatch current and projected threats in the air, on the surface and under water.
The completion of CDR marks the end of Phase III development, which resulted in the design, construction and test of 10 engineering development models (EDM) that will make DD(X) the Navy’s most capable multimission surface combatant ever constructed.
“DD(X) System CDR brings this incredible warship class one step closer from next generation to current generation," according to Rear Adm. Charles Hamilton, the Navy’s program executive officer for ships. “The Navy and National Team have accomplished the most thorough ship design and integration process in the history of Navy shipbuilding. I am proud of their achievement and believe their accomplishment sets a new standard in acquisition.”
“DD(X) CDR reflects a disciplined, rigorous process of risk mitigation in 10 EDMs. CDRs for each of the 10 EDMs have achieved both technical maturity as well as significant cost insight,“ he said. “Completion of the ship CDR is the culmination of three years of work executed on schedule and within one percent of stated budget,” Hamilton said.
“The National Team and Navy have achieved an unprecedented level of system design integration to deliver a balanced design that provides the required warfighting capability,” said Rear Adm. Chuck Goddard, DD(X) program manager. “We’ve matured the systems we need to build this class, and are ready to proceed to Milestone B and begin detail design and construction.”
Under the Navy’s proposed dual-yard acquisition strategy, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works will simultaneously build lead ships beginning in fiscal year 2007. Pending final approval of the plan, the Defense Department has authorized the Navy to award advance contracts to assist both shipyards to prepare to transition into detail design after the Milestone B decision. Development of major ship systems will continue under separate contracts.
First step towards a new Destroyer Class done.
Tin Can Sailor Bump
DD(X)The DD(X) destroyer is at the heart of the DD(X) program. When put into service (it is currently in the construction phase), it will replace the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates and Spruance class destroyers.
DD(X) will provide land attack support for ground forces as well as perform anti-air, anti-surface and undersea warfare.
The DD(X) destroyer will have several advanced technology features:
Tumblehome Hull Form: This low-to-the water hull slopes inward from above the waterline reducing the hull’s exposure to waves. As a result, there is less ship-rocking motion to help reduce radar identification by other ships.
All-Electric Drive: Four prime movers (engines) will provide power to all the ship’s systems. Compared to present power configurations, the all-electric drive will eliminate driveshaft/reduction gears, thus reducing the acoustic signature by which other ships can identify a vessel. There will also be 10 times more available power for all the ship’s systems compared to the power capabilities of conventional ships. This additional power will also be necessary for future electronic-based weaponry.
Peripheral Vertical Launch System (PVLS): The PVLS will be made up of clusters of missile magazines (four missiles/launchers in each cluster) located between layers of steel alongside the periphery of the hull.
The advantage of the PVLS versus locating the VLS missile magazines in the center of the ship, as has traditionally been done, is very simple: In the event a magazine is struck by an incoming missile, there is a reduced risk that other magazines will blow up and sink or severely damage the ship.
The PVLS will be able to launch several types of missiles:
Tomahawk land attack missiles
Standard missiles for local air defense
Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles for airborne and seaborne attacks
Antisubmarine rockets
Conventional Weaponry: DD(X) will be armed with an impressive array of traditional weaponry including:
Two 40mm close-in gun systems for air and surface attacks
Two 155mm guns (advanced gun systems) with:
Up to 80 nautical mile range
10 rounds/minute firing capability
Fully automated handling and storage system
GPS-guided Long Range Land Attack Projectiles
Future Weaponry: DD(X) will be a platform for varied-intensity weapons capable of damaging an enemy ship versus destroying it, depending on the power output of the weapon. Future weapons could include:
Free electron lasers utilizing photons traveling at light speed, providing precise targeting
High-powered microwaves utilizing radio frequency energy
Electromagnetic rail guns utilizing electricity and magnetic fields
Radar Suite: AN/SPY-3 multifunction radar will combine the functions formerly provided by five separate radar systems, reducing equipment and manpower costs. The radar will detect the most advanced, low-observable anti-ship cruise missiles, especially in adverse environmental conditions. To provide as small a signature as possible to other ships, phased array radar antennas will be incorporated into the DD(X)’s composite superstructure. (Composite material cannot be identified by radar.)
Crew: Many of the functions performed by crews on conventional destroyers will be automated on the DD(X). That means a reduction in crew size – 330 fewer sailors than the Spruance class destroyers and 200 fewer sailors than the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates. The crew will also focus on fighting versus ship maintenance.
She's streamlined and spartan. But for aesthetic purposes, I like yours better.
I'm old, classic boat fan and the tumblehome hull certainly isn't new.
Very cool.
Just what we need to keep the Chinese awake at night, and the Taiwanese sleeping soundly.
I like tumblehome design. Though wetter than flared designs, the crew will mostly be working inside, so this won't be a problem.
Tumble or jumble referred to the way old English houses leaned on each other. Home refers to the center of the ship as stowing sails near the center of the spars is "sheethome".
Putting the words to gether means that the side of the ships lean to center. It was common in the days of fighting ships with oars and rams, and again became common when guns were mounted in the sides below decks.
The old is always new again, but in a different way.
> Tumblehome hull design?
No doubt an inescapable consequence of the facetted
design. I note that most, perhaps all, surfaces are flat,
and all slope up - none down to form a corner reflector.
Only a sub would be stealthier :-)
Hey 'Tonk,
If you have a tin can sailor ping list, put me on!
Thx!
USS Corry DD 817
'66-'69
GMG 3
BTTT
I question the need and cost of the DDX when the Burke class does more cheaper and can be modded to incorporate a lot of what the DDX offers. It will not be as stealthy and no big gun but both of those are marginal.
The greatest cost of any ship is the crew, over its life. The DDX is better there than the DDGs but even that can be brought closer.
For me, the problem is numbers. We can have 1 1/2 to 2 DDGs for each DDX. If you believe the $ for the DDX, bump them by 2 to get a nearly accurate number. All program managers low ball their programs to keep funding. The only one I knew that did not was the FFG program, one of the most successful in recent memory.
Another class of skimmer that won't even submerge properly. I suppose it will be useful in some way, but if it doesn't have a diving alarm it can't be all that great.
2 questions for you folks....
1. what are these and how do they work? "Antisubmarine rockets "
2. They are moving to electric but they dont say how they are generating all that electric? is it nuke? If not what will they be able to use desil gen?
Re your Question #1: search FreeRepublic for "supercavitating".
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