[Non-Sequitur]

But this is comparable to a US Kidd and has only half the firepower of a US Arleigh Burke.

On the contrary this is heads and shoulders above the Kidd's. The Kidd class had two twin arm Mk 26 launchers and could fire four missiles per salvo. Unfortunately they only had a single Mk 74 fire control system per launcher so they could only track and engage two targets at once. Ships like the Burke and the Daring have fire control systems that allow them to engage dozens of targets simultaneously. Depending on how their control systems work out, the Darings could be the equal of a Burke or their superior. Hard to tell from this article alone.

[JasonC]

Fair enough, I was thinking of the overall firepower. A Burke DD carries 96 standard missiles, this apparently carries only 48. The Kidd carried 48. If it has the phased array radar and electronics and fire control of a Burke, then it is intermediate between the two US classes in combat power.

[Jeff Head]

I do not believe the Daring will be superior...certainly not to the Flight IIA Burkes, or the Ticonderoga, also, not superior to the new Korean Sejong AEGIS vessel (which has more fire power than the Ticonderoga) or the Japoanese Atago class AEGIS vessels.

The Daring and the Horizon class will be powereful and very modern and they will be an absolute compliment to us as allies and essential to those nations (UK, Italy, and France) for their own defense.

Anyhow...time will tell.

I have a site that compares all the AEGIS and AEGIS-like vessels. You may find it of interest.

AEGIS and AEGIS-like Vessels of the World.