[TheDrive] A cost-cutting effort years ago left the DDG-1000 destroyers with degraded capabilities and a one-off combat system, but that could be changing.
The U.S. Navy is in the process of exploring options to replace Raytheon's AN/SPY-3 radar on its three still not yet operational Zumwalt class destroyers. The only option we know definitively to be under consideration is a variant of the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, or EASR, but the Navy has indicated that there are others. EASR is another Raytheon product that is already slated to go onto a number of the service's new ships, including all future Ford class aircraft carriers from CVN-79 on and the forthcoming Constellation class frigates, previously known as FFG(X). Combined with the stealthy destroyers' other advanced and largely unique combat systems, a new, more powerful radar could significantly expand their capabilities, which were grossly watered-down years ago as part of cost-cutting efforts.
A spokesperson for Naval Sea Systems Command confirmed to The War Zone that "the Navy is exploring several alternatives to sustain air and surface search capability aboard the Zumwalt class ships" on Oct. 15, 2020. That same statement said that "no decision has been made at this time" as to how the service will necessarily proceed. The first-in-class USS Zumwalt has already received its combat systems, but the second and third ships in the class, the USS Michael Monsoor and the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson are in the process of being fitted out. As such, all three could need to have their existing removed in order to receive new ones.
Posted by Woodrow 2020-10-17 00:00||
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#1 Yeah, make them SWACs - Seaborne Early Warning and Control ships. Rip out the useless guns and get more missile cells in those things too.
Posted by M. Murcek 2020-10-17 05:52||
2020-10-17 05:52||
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#2 I am convinced that from recruiting, to the odiferous Naval Academy, to Naval aviation, to ships at sea, to procurement and promotions, the Navy can do nothing right.
Posted by Angoluling Ulealing4735 2020-10-17 09:36||
2020-10-17 09:36||
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#3 ^ Next thing you know, people will stop making fun of the USAF.
Posted by M. Murcek 2020-10-17 09:46||
2020-10-17 09:46||
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#4 Re:#4: Not. Gonna. Happen.
Posted by USN, Ret. 2020-10-17 10:21||
2020-10-17 10:21||
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#5 Ok: should be 3. I blame the lockdown/BLM/global warming
Posted by USN, Ret. 2020-10-17 10:24||
2020-10-17 10:24||
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#6 #2 I am convinced that from recruiting, to the odiferous Naval Academy, to Naval aviation, to ships at sea, to procurement and promotions, the Navy can do nothing right.
And when you consider that it's our domination of the oceans that makes us the preeminent world power, this is especially disturbing.
Posted by charger 2020-10-17 12:09||
2020-10-17 12:09||
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#7 /\ How much of this is directly attributable to the Defense Department corruption?
Posted by magpie 2020-10-17 12:50||
2020-10-17 12:50||
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#8 In my day, the description of the USAF was “a group of gentlemen who share a common tailor”.
Posted by NoMoreBS 2020-10-17 13:46||
2020-10-17 13:46||
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#9 #7 LCS. Zumwalt. Ford. "Twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action"
But with any luck the Chinese are just stupid enough to copy these designs.
Posted by Matt 2020-10-17 14:07||
2020-10-17 14:07||
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