The US Navy wants new cruisers to host an air defense commander staff within the carrier strike group and for more large weapons, and to hold a very large radar.
In 2006, the RAND corporation found that from 1965-2005 the US Navy had 7-11% annual inflation for its ships and this inflation rate was higher than the inflation for US college tuition and US healthcare. This was before the Zumwalt destroyers (aka DDX) came in at $7.5 billion each compared to the previous destroyer at $1-2 billion each. Only 3 Zumwalts will be built and they have loads of technical and operational problems.
SAN DIEGO (Dec. 8, 2016) The guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) arrives at its new homeport in San Diego. Zumwalt, the Navy’s most technologically advanced surface ship, will now begin installation of combat systems, testing and evaluation and operation integration with the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Emiline L. M. Senn/Released)
The Navy procurement has been badly broken for decades but it has become a farce in the last 15 years. It is also a tragedy for the American taxpayer.
The US Navy wanted to include Zumwalt destroyer features in the large surface combatant ship. This desire for advanced technology that has proven very costly in the past will drive up costs and delay the program. The US Navy wants a bigger and badder version of the Zumwalt and this is already causing years of delays.
While we wait the Navy will buy more of the thirty-year old design of the Arleigh Burke destroyers.
SOURCES- Rand, USNI
Written By Brian Wang. Nextbigfuture.com
