Feature 2 | US Navy
New President, new US Navy?
The USA anticipates great things and many changes under recently
inaugurated President Barack Obama, but the new President’s navy is
already facing major changes that reflect the new economic climate.
P
erhaps the most significant is the
decision to abandon the Zumwalt
(DDG 1000) programme at just
three ships. In fact, if the US Navy had
had its way it would have been dropped
at two ships, but the need to keep yards
operating has meant that a third ship has
been reluctantly requested. However, this
third ship will be part-funded by diverting
money from the P-8 Poseidon maritime
reconnaissance aircraft programme,
which is needed to replace the ageing
Orion fleet.
Ostensibly, the reason for abandoning
these circa 14,000tonne behemoths is
that they would be vulnerable to surface-
launched anti-ship missiles and other
post-Cold War threats. The attention of
the current Chief of Naval Operations,
Admiral Gary Roughhead, was apparently The latest carrier to join the US fleet, USS George H W Bush, was commissioned on 10
drawn to this threat when the Israeli January, just prior to the inauguration of the new US President.
corvette INS Hanit was hit by such a
missile off Beirut in 2006.
This seems poor reasoning for ending a what is also unresolved is the future of the Chokai failed to intercept a target due to
10-year programme that has already cost Ticonderoga (CG 47) class replacement, missile seeker failure.
US$13 billion. The real reason, as Admiral CG (X), which was once planned to be a The US Navy is hoping to order
Roughhead added, was that the Zumwalt modified Zumwalt platform. the first CG (X) in Financial Year
class was too close to the leading edge The deathly silence on this (FY) 2011 at a cost of nearly US$3.25
of technology and, from hull to sensors, programme does not bode well and it billion with the second two years later
was proving too costly. Murmurings were seems many issues remain unresolved, and the total requirement is currently
also growing in Congress and there is no especially the hull, with proposals based for 19 hulls.
doubt whatsoever that if the US Navy had on the Arleigh Burke and even the San Last year Congress was preoccupied
not halted the DDG 1000 project, in the Antonio (LPD 17). with ending dependence upon
present financial climate, Congress would It seems likely the new cruiser, which imported oil following the massive
have done so. will have anti-air warfare/ballistic oil price hike, and many on Capitol
Ironically, the US Navy intends to order missile defence as its prime roles, will Hill were advocating nuclear-powered
up to nine more Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) also incorporate some of the Zumwalt vessels, although this will require a
class destroyers, which the Zumwalts were technology probably including the AN/ substantial redesign, which would
at one time scheduled to replace. There SPY-3 radar and the missile launchers. delay its introduction into service and
have been some suggestions that the Meanwhile, the 18-ship ballistic missile add substantially to costs.
new ships might be so-called ‘Flight III,’ defence (BMD) force is to be extended by Moreover, converting Northrop
incorporating some of the Zumwalt class three ships (a cruiser and two destroyers) Grumman Pascagoula and General
technology, but it is early days and they from the Atlantic Fleet, partly to offset the Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works shipyards
have yet to be placed in a budget. Pacific Fleet bias of the current force. The to make them capable – like Northrop
Certainly, the extended Arleigh Burkes BMD technology is clearly becoming more Grumman’s Newport News – of building
will keep sailing until the proposed reliable, although the Japanese Maritime nuclear-powered surface ships would also
DDG (X) class takes shape, possibly also Self Defence Force had an embarrassing add to costs, and with the sharp decline in
incorporating Zumwalt technology, but failure in November 2008 when the oil prices over recent months there seems
16 Warship Technology March 2009
WT_Mar09_p16+17+18+20.indd 1 3/4/09 9:37:17 PM
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