Latest news with #Ticonderoga-class
AllAfrica
21-07-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
US Navy's next-gen destroyer looking like a money pit
The US Navy's next-gen DDG(X) destroyer is designed to outgun China's rising fleet, but soaring costs, shaky tech and shipyard bottlenecks threaten to derail the program before it leaves the drawing board. This month, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report stating that while the US Navy seeks to procure the first DDG(X) in the early 2030s and has requested US$133.5 million for research and development in FY2026, the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates each ship will cost $4.4 billion—33% more than the US Navy's $3.3 billion projection. The DDG(X) is intended to replace the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers with enhanced power systems, increased payload capacity and the ability to field directed-energy weapons. However, a June 2025 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighted that critical technologies—including the Integrated Power System (IPS) and hull form—remain immature and may not be fully tested before the ship enters detailed design. That's raising red flags about cost and schedule—further compounded by August 2024 updates to operational requirements made to accommodate faster speeds and higher electrical loads, with no updated timelines or cost estimates provided. Lawmakers must weigh whether DDG(X)'s ambitious design justifies its cost and whether the US Navy is doing enough to manage risks as it transitions from existing destroyer programs. The DDG(X) program embodies the US Navy's effort to field a technologically advanced destroyer capable of countering China's growing surface fleet, but it faces significant technology maturity challenges and industrial constraints that threaten to delay deployment. In terms of tactical capability, Missile Threat notes that the AN/SPY-6 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar slated to be installed on the new class is 30 times more powerful than the current AN/SPY-1 and can track over 30 times the targets, enabling simultaneous ballistic missile defense, air defense and surface warfare. Defense Daily reported in January 2022 that the DDG(X)'s baseline combat suite includes two 21-cell Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launchers and 32 MK 41 vertical launch system (VLS) cells, with potential upgrades including two 600-kilowatt lasers, a third 150-kilowatt laser, and 12 Large Missile Launcher cells for hypersonic weapons. James Black mentions in a January 2024 RAND article that such weapons aboard ships offer precision strike capabilities at the speed of light, reduced engagement costs and deep magazine capacity—traits invaluable for countering fast-moving aerial threats, drones and missiles. Black notes that a 10-second laser shot may cost only $13, massively undercutting missile interceptor prices. He adds that lasers reduce logistical strain, can quickly retarget and offer deep magazines, but suffer from weather limits, require stable platforms and strain power systems. Although the GAO notes that IPS technology is still in development, nuclear propulsion for cruisers and destroyers could be feasible, as the US Navy previously operated such ships during the Cold War. However, renewed great power competition with China and Russia might prompt the US to revisit that idea. Jordan Spector argues in a July 2025 Proceedings article that reviving nuclear propulsion for cruisers and destroyers offers clear advantages in power and endurance. He states that Generation IV reactors are more economical, require less maintenance and eliminate midlife refueling, supporting high-energy weapons like railguns and lasers for sustained combat operations without losing mobility. Spector notes that nuclear vessels are less vulnerable to logistics interdiction, especially as China's capacity to disrupt fuel supply chains grows. However, he highlights challenges such as port access restrictions, limited nuclear-certified shipyards, significant infrastructure costs and historical expense concerns. The operational need for a large surface combatant such as the DDG(X) may be driven in part by the massive growth of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), especially in large surface combatants such as the Type 055 cruiser. According to the US Department of Defense's (DoD) 2024 China Military Power Report (CMPR), the PLAN has significantly expanded its fleet of large surface combatants, reflecting a strategic emphasis on blue-water capability. As of 2023, the report states China fielded over 370 ships, including at least eight Renhai-class (Type 055) cruisers, each displacing approximately 13,000 tons and equipped with 112 VLS cells. The report notes this underscores China's push to project power through a technologically sophisticated fleet. Eric Wertheim, writing in March 2023 for Proceedings, says the Type 055 embodies China's ambition to field high-end blue-water combatants with extensive multi-domain capabilities. The writer notes China's Type 055 displaces up to 13,000 tons and is armed with 112 universal VLS cells capable of deploying HHQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missiles, YJ-18 antiship cruise missiles, YJ-21 hypersonic missiles and potentially antisubmarine or land-attack weapons. He adds that the class integrates the Type 346B AESA radar, towed and hull-mounted sonar suites and variable-depth sonar for layered detection, with shipboard sensors enclosed in a stealth-enhancing integrated mast. Additionally, Wertheim states that the Type 055's other armaments include a 130-millimeter main gun, HHQ-10 point-defense launcher, close-in weapons systems (CIWS) and dual maritime helicopters, giving the platform comprehensive strike, defense and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) reach. Given such developments, Brent Sadler mentions in an April 2023 article for The Heritage Foundation that as tensions with China intensify, the DDG(X) program stands as a strategic imperative for maintaining US naval dominance. Sadler underscores that China's shipbuilding surge, coupled with the US's aging fleet, risks capability gaps without timely DDG(X) deployment. He points out that with only two US shipyards producing large surface combatants, early and predictable investment is crucial. He notes that a funded signal today enables Huntington Ingalls and Bath Iron Works to commit to facility upgrades and workforce expansion, mitigating production delays. He adds that integrating a proven acquisition model like the Virginia-class Integrated Product Team (IPT) ensures yard constraints are addressed during design, improving fabrication efficiency. Sadler warns that delayed action risks ceding US naval initiative in a high-stakes theater such as the Pacific. Whether DDG(X) becomes the US Navy's trump card or a billion-dollar trap will hinge on decisions made before the first keel is even laid.
Business Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Fairbanks Morse Defense Awarded Contract for FM 175D Engine to Support U.S. Navy's DDG(X) Program
BELOIT, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), has been awarded a contract to provide the U.S. Navy with an FM 175D high-speed diesel generator engine for integration into the DDG(X) land-based propulsion system test site, supporting the U.S. Navy's goal of reducing design risks as it continues developing the next-generation platform. 'Fairbanks Morse Defense has a long history of delivering mission-critical power and propulsion solutions for the U.S. Navy,' said Mike Clark, Chief Operating Officer of Fairbanks Morse Defense. 'The selection of the FM 175D for this important land-based test highlights the superior power density needed on modern surface combatants, ensuring the DDG(X) has the energy needed to operate advanced combat systems while maintaining operational efficiency.' Designed to succeed the Flight II Ticonderoga-class cruisers and the Flight I/II Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the platform is currently in the design and feasibility stage, with construction expected to begin in 2032. As the Navy's next-generation large surface combatant, DDG(X) will integrate a wider array of advanced systems, demanding unprecedented levels of power generation. The ship is designed with an Integrated Power System (IPS) to generate, convert, and distribute power for ship operations. The DDG(X) electrical plant is expected to deliver more than 75 megawatts of power for standard operations while enabling high-energy equipment, advanced sensors, and enhanced propulsion systems. The FM 175D propulsion system generator set can produce 3.8 MW of power, which is considered among the best in class for power density. Unlike conventional high-speed engines, the FM 175D delivers significantly greater power while maximizing fuel efficiency, making it an optimal choice to reduce the life cycle costs of the DDG(X) platform. It has a power output range of 1,740 to 4,400 kilowatts and operates at 1,800 to 2,000 RPM. Fairbanks Morse Defense launched the FM 175D into the United States in 2023 to meet the growing demand for high-density power system solutions in the naval defense industry. As the most power-dense engine available in the U.S. maritime sector, the FM 175D is well-proven in maritime defense and commercial applications worldwide, offering increased electrical output for modern naval operations and combat systems. The FM 175D is available in 12, 16, or 20-cylinder configurations with a 175mm bore, and is capable of driving mechanical propulsion systems or generators for onboard power generation. About Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) builds, maintains, and services the most trusted naval power and propulsion systems on the planet. For nearly 100 years, FMD has been a principal supplier of a growing array of leading marine technologies, OEM parts, and turnkey services to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and Canadian Coast Guard. FMD stands ready to rapidly support the systems that power military fleets without compromising safety or quality. In times of peace and war, the experienced engineers, sailors, and technicians of FMD demonstrate our commitment to supporting the mission and vision of critical global naval operations wherever and whenever needed. FMD is a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management. To learn more, visit
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group to return after 9-month deployment
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group will begin returning to their respective homeports following a nine-month deployment. The strike group includes USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28, and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 with nine embarked squadrons. The USS Stout and the Truman will return Sunday, per a news release issued Thursday. During the deployment, the USS Harry Truman collided with another vessel near Egypt, a F-18 Super Hornet fell overboard during an attack by the Houthis and the USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired another Super Hornet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Second Navy fighter jet goes overboard from Truman aircraft carrier, pilots ejected
Two U.S. Navy pilots ejected while attempting to land a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier on Tuesday, resulting in the aircraft being lost in the Red Sea, the second such incident in a week, Department of Defense officials said. An F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, was landing on the flight deck of USS Harry S. Truman "when the arrestment failed, causing the aircraft to go overboard," the official told Fox News Digital. Navy Deploys Additional Warship To Curb Illegal Immigration, Drug Smuggling At The Southern Border Both pilots in the aircraft ejected and were rescued. The warplane went overboard into the sea and has not been recovered. "The aviators were evaluated by medical personnel and assessed to have minor injuries. No flight deck personnel were injured," the official said. The incident occurred just over a week after another F/A-18F Super Hornet went overboard on the USS Truman. Read On The Fox News App Trump's Use Of Warship For Border Enforcement A 'Smart' Use Of Military Force, Expert Says The USS Harry S. Truman at sea. The $67.4 million aircraft was lost when it was actively under tow in a hangar bay when the crew lost control of the aircraft . Sailors towing the aircraft took "immediate action" to move clear of the aircraft before it fell overboard, the Navy said. At the time, officials said the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, a coalition of U.S. warships deployed to the Red Sea, and an air wing remained fully mission-capable. Click To Get The Fox News App The strike group comprises the Truman aircraft carrier and nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 1, three guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 28, and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Gettysburg. The carrier has been operating in the Red Sea, where it has launched strikes against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists based in Yemen. On Tuesday, Trump announced a ceasefire with the terror group. Original article source: Second Navy fighter jet goes overboard from Truman aircraft carrier, pilots ejected
Epoch Times
29-04-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
US Navy Fighter Jet Lost at Sea After Accident on USS Harry S. Truman
An F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 was lost overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) while the aircraft carrier was in the Red Sea on April 28, the U.S. Navy The accident also resulted in the loss of a tow tractor but all personnel were accounted for, with only one sailor sustaining a minor injury, according to the statement from the Navy. The Navy reported that the F/A-18E was being towed in the carrier's hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the jet. The jet and the tow tractor both went overboard. Sailors involved in the towing immediately moved clear of the jet before it fell into the sea. The Navy has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Despite the loss of the jet and tow tractor, the Navy said that the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and its air wing remain fully mission capable. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is composed of the flagship USS Harry S. Truman, the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 1, three guided-missile destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 28, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64). Related Stories 4/27/2025 4/28/2025 During their deployment, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group supported multiple self-defense strikes against targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, contributing to U.S. Central Command's efforts to weaken threats to regional partners and the free flow of commerce. The strike group also conducted airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia in support of U.S. Africa Command and in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia. 'The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group remains the most adaptable and lethal presence in theater,' said Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the strike group, in a February statement. The port visit to Souda Bay was used for maintenance and upkeep for the ships and aircraft, as well as a chance for sailors to experience the local culture, the Navy said. The strike group's deployment has included stops in Oslo, Norway, and Marseille, France, in addition to Souda Bay. The mission of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is to conduct quick and sustained combat operations at sea and maintain a forward presence through sea control and power projection capabilities, according to the Navy. From NTD News
