The first class missile launcher Zumwalt it could be equipped with precision ammunition Excalibur developed by Raytheon Company. It is significantly cheaper than the Long Range Land-Attack Projectile, the only precision ammunition designed forAdvanced Gun System from 155 millimeters that would have to equip the Zumwalt. Every single Long Range Land-Attack Projectile costs 800 $ a thousand: will be officially canceled in the Program Objective Memorandum 2018.
On 2 November last, the request was officially presented to the Secretary of Defense. The 150 ammunition LRLAP purchased for 115 million dollars, will be used for testing. No sum has been added to the budget for LRLP ammunition in the 2016 and 2017 financial statements.
The AGS / LRLAP combination was originally developed to provide a "persistent focus support of precision, able to hit targets inland".
The USS Zumwalt, defined as the most powerful ship ever designed by man, will therefore have to give up its turret banked by 155 millimeters because of the cost of each single projectile: 800 thousand dollars. Digit clearly by default.
The US Navy does not have the money nor the time (about 15 years of development) to design a new ammo, which is why the alternative Excalibur It was taken seriously. The Navy, however, did not provide any details on additional costs. In fact, additional work will be required to modify the existing AGS system to accommodate theExcalibur. It should be noted that both the barrel of the AGS and the automatic ammunition management system have been specifically designed to manage the Long Range Land-Attack Projectile. The amendments, should the approval be approvedExcalibur (there are no alternatives ready for at least the next ten years), they should not exceed $ 500 millions of dollars.
The naval version of 'Excalibur derives from that used by the Army (1B) as ammunition for artillery pieces from 155 millimeters. The system Gun Advanced o Ags had been designed to shoot eleven-pound rockets, with a margin of error (Cep) of 50 meters, at a maximum distance of 154 km. Each unit would have a capacity of 750 projectiles. The reed of the ADS is cooled to water to prevent overheating, while the rate of fire is ten strokes per minute per weapon. The combined firepower of a pair of turrets would give each class destroyer Zumwalt a firepower of twelve M198 field guns.
The USS Zumwalt, a destroyer capable of engaging targets a hundred miles away with electromagnetic cannons and with such a reduced signature to appear on radars with the size of a fishing vessel, was officially delivered to the US Navy last November. The leader of the class Zumwalt, is the largest and most powerful US Navy destroyer ever built. The cost of the whole program is 23 billion dollars. The total cost of procurement for the three ships is estimated at 13,2 billion dollars, about 4,4 billion dollars per boat.
The second ship, the Michael Monsoor, will be delivered in November next year, a few months late from the original timeline. The decision was taken due to the complexity of the project for the class defined as the most powerful in the world. The third and last ship of the class, the Lyndon B. Johnson, will be delivered in December of the 2018.
The most powerful US Navy multirole destroyer ever built, was designed, engineered and armed for the war of the future at a cost of 4,4 billion dollars per boat, about three times the cost of a current destroyer for a total of 13,2 billion dollars for three ships (on the 32 initially planned).
From 2009 to 2015, the cost of each single boat increased by 34,4%. Everything on Zumwalt It is unique in its kind. His profile stealth for example, it should make it invisible to enemy radars. Even though the 40% is larger than one Arleigh Burke, has an Rcs (Radar Cross-Section) of a fishing vessel.
The Zumwalt destroyer reintroduces the camber: the maximum width of the vessel is on the waterline, while proceeding upwards the hull begins to shrink. Its unusual hull then, has been designed with wave penetration technology or wave-piercing for a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km / h).
It was designed to pour a devastating firepower even if it was severely affected. The class Zumwalt is armed with eighty cruise missiles Tomahawk (displaced on various Vls Mk 57 advanced pods, along the entire ship so as not to lose missile capability even if hit), two Ags cannons from 155 mm, two from 57 mm and batteries of Sea Sparrow evolved.
The majestic and unattainable program Zumwalt a fleet of 32s had been designed to be reduced to three. The loss of economies of scale has pushed up the cost of individual ships. The class Zumwalt will introduce the shadow patrols.
Considering the investment and the firepower, each Zumwalt it would deserve an independent battle group as it is for aircraft carriers. Other platforms, however, would annul the tactical advantage of a low observable vector. Here's the class then Zumwalt it could be the first unit to be escorted only by attacking submarines.
Initially, the USS Zumwalt will be integrated into the battle group of an aircraft carrier. Subsequently, the Zumwalt will start the shadow patrols.
(photo: US Navy)
