Navy wants new destroyer with lasers, hypersonic missiles

[Peter1469]

The next generation destroyer will have lasers and hypersonic missiles.



Navy wants new destroyer with lasers, hypersonic missiles (yahoo.com)- DDG(X)

DDG(X) Is the Future of U.S. Navy: Navy Seeks Warships Armed With Lasers and Hypersonic Missiles – Lawmakers often accuse the military of always wanting more – a fact that isn’t entirely accurate as the United States Air Force has also sought to clip the wings of some aging warbirds to use the money for the development of future combat aircraft, while the United States Navy has sought to retire several of its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) years ahead of schedule.


In the latter case, the Navy is also thinking ahead, and it actually does want more. In addition, to potentially a larger size fleet – something supported by lawmakers in Washington – some Navy officials are calling for a new class of vessel that could be equipped with lasers that could be utilized to shoot down enemy missiles, as well as hypersonic missiles to target an adversary’s fleet.


In this case, the Navy also isn’t just adding “more” but is looking at what has worked and, as importantly, what hasn’t.


The Associated Press reported that the future class of destroyers would be an opportunity to take the service in a new direction after the production run of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers is completed

“It will be an impressive destroyer that will absolutely launch us into the next generation of ships,” Tom Stevens, director of ground assembly at Navy shipbuilder Bath Iron Works, told the wire service.


The Future DDG(X) Is About to Set Sail
Navy wants new destroyer with lasers, hypersonic missiles (yahoo.com)

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With an overall length ranging from 505 to 509.5 feet (153.9 to 155.3 meters), and displacing between 8,230 to 9,700 tons, the Arleigh Burke-class is actually larger than most previous ships classified as guided missile cruisers. Each is also more heavily armed than past cruisers and is equipped with more than 90 missiles.


Yet, the future DDG(X) could take the armament even further – and arguably could have the striking potential of the old battleships. Instead of the big guns, the hypersonic missiles could do the “heavy lifting.”