I say move to ALL CATAMARAN fleet!
Use sails to save on fuel when possible. Plus they look awesome.
Not only has the mission profile expanded, but the potential threat environment has grown to include orbital and hypersonic weapons that might be fired well beyond the former threat envelops. Also, many weapons they will face may have terminal maneuverability making them much more difficult to destroy. As you layer on each new threat you have two choices; make the ship bigger to hold more defenses, or make it smaller so it will be a more difficult target. I’m guessing the Navy will go with the former.
All the $$$$$$$ and technology in the world won’t overcome the lack of command leadership the US Navy has allowed to occur in the name of gender equality.
“...Power For Radars & Lasers”
Covering the deck and superstructure with solar panels won’t do it?
Time for a catamaran design?
“...integrated electric drive...”
Bring in Elon Musk?
“... around a 155 mm gun with revolutionary rocket-boosted shells...”
Having worked on those rounds, they were a turkey from the get go. There is no mission for a sea based round that can travel 100+ miles. In order to achieve that range, the warhead is so small it’s practically worthless.
And the rocket motor ignition system so complex that it was expected to fail 20% of the time.
The Marines need beach blasters and inshore support; inshore, as in 20 - 40 miles.
There’s noting wrong with the concept of a 155mm high fire rate gun, it’s the compromises to get the 100+ mile distance that crippled it and made it worthless.