The most powerful ship ever built by man, will enter into active service by next October. This is the confirmation of the US Navy and the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works for the USS Zumwalt, destroyers able to engage targets at a hundred miles away with electromagnetic guns and with a signature so small as to appear on radar with the size of a fishing boat.
The leader of the Zumwalt class, is now in the final phase of sea trials. The inspection of the Navy will take place by next summer. Should the latter end without problems, the acceptance tests at sea will begin. Once this phase is over, the largest and most powerful multi-role destroyer in the United States Navy ever built will enter service by early October.
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 timeline original. The decision was taken because of the complexity of the project for the class defined as the most powerful in the world. The third and final ship of the class, Lyndon B. Johnson, will be delivered in December of the 2018.
The most powerful multi-role destroyer of the United States Navy ever built, was conceived, designed and armed for the war of the future at an exorbitant cost: 4,4 billion dollars per boat, about three times the cost of a current destroyer for a total cost of 13,2 billions of dollars for three ships (on the 32 initially planned). From the 2009 to the 2015, the cost of every single boat has increased by 34,4%.
It should be noted that everything about 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 destroyer Zumwalt reintroduces the camber: the maximum width of the ship is on the waterline, while proceeding upwards the hull begins to shrink. Its unusual hull then, was designed with wave penetration technology o wave-piercing for a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km / h).
It was designed to pour a devastating fire capacity even if severely hit. The Zumwalt class 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 system Gun Advanced o Ags deserves a separate discussion. He fires eleven-pound rocket-projectiles, with a margin of error (Cep) of 50 meters, at a maximum distance of 154 km. Each unit will have a capacity of 750 bullets. The barrel of theAgs it is water-cooled to prevent overheating, while the rate of fire is ten rounds 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.
Le Zumwalt they will be equipped with laser defensive systems designed to take down drones and enemy planes and electromagnetic guns capable of firing projectiles at hypersonic speed. According to the US Navy, laser technology has been designed to eliminate asymmetric threats such as drones, small planes and speedboats: all potential threats to warships in the Persian Gulf.
Electromagnetic guns have already been tested. We are talking about tungsten projectiles that reach the target with a speed equal to seven times that of sound, for a higher power (at a much lower cost) to a missile Tomahawk. This armament will confer to the Zumwalt the role of "true warfighter game changer".
Two Sh-60 / helicopters will be on board Seahawk (Lamps Mk III) for anti-submarine warfare and three Mq-8 Fire Scout, unmanned helicopters developed for armed reconnaissance. The size of the ship and the power plant capable of producing 78 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 78 thousand homes - make it an ideal platform for the weapons of the future such as the electromagnetic gun.
The fifteen thousand tons have a margin of growth of 10%, equivalent to additional 1500 tons of future technology to be implemented in the system without altering the boat's performance.
Finally, the degree of automation achieved would be so high that a crew of 158 members will be enough to drive the ship, half of those required for the current generation of destroyers (an operating life of 35 years could save 280 tax payers millions of dollars for ship).
Le Zumwalt they represent the breaking point between the past and the new war scenarios of the future. As well as for the F-22, the only fighter in the world for which the term air supremacy was coined, also the Zumwalt they bear this name. Its electromagnetic weaponry should enable it to impose dominion over any sea and against any enemy. The battle name of the Zumwalt is "Silver Bullet", silver bullet.
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 it will be integrated into a battle group of an aircraft carrier. Subsequently, the Zumwalt shadow patrols will start.
(photo: US Navy)
