Program Summary
The DDG 51 class ship is a multi-mission guided missile destroyer designed to
operate independently, or as units of Carrier Strike Groups (CSG), Expeditionary
Strike Groups (ESG), and Missile Defense Action Groups. DDG 51 class destroyers
operate in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface threat environments. These
ships will respond to Low Intensity Conflict/Coastal and Littoral Offshore
Warfare (LIC/CALOW) scenarios as well as open-ocean conflict providing or
augmenting power projection, forward presence requirements, and escort
operations at sea.
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PASCAGOULA, Miss. (May 7, 2010) The Arleigh
Burk-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely
(DDG 107) is surrounded by an oil containment
booms to prevent oil from the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill from reaching it's hull while pierside
in Pascagoula, Miss. Deepwater Horizon was an
ultra-deepwater oil rig that sank April 22,
causing a massive oil spill threatening the U.S.
Gulf Coast. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass
Communication Specialist 2nd Class Corey Truax/Released)
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The DDG 51 class ships provide outstanding combat capability and
survivability characteristics while considering procurement and lifetime support
costs. They feature extraordinary sea keeping and low observability
characteristics.
Like most modern U.S. Navy surface combatants, DDG 51 utilizes
gas turbine propulsion. Employing four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbines to
produce 100,000 total shaft horsepower via a dual shaft design, Arleigh
Burke-class destroyers are capable of achieving 30 plus knot speeds in open
seas.
The Arleigh Burke-class employs all-steel construction and is
comprised of three separate variants or “Flights”; DDG 51-71 represent the
original design and are designated Flight I ships, DDG 72-78 are Flight II
ships, DDG 79 and Follow ships are built to the Flight IIA design.
The Flight IIA design includes the addition of the Kingfisher
mine-avoidance capability, a pair of helicopter hangars which provide the
ability to deploy with two organic LAMPS MK III MH-60 helicopters,
blast-hardened bulkheads, distributed electrical system and advanced networked
systems. Additionally, DDGs 91-96 provide accommodations for the A/N WLD-1
Remote Mine-hunting System. The first Flight IIA, USS Oscar Austin, was
commissioned in August 2000.
DDG 51 class destroyers are equipped with the Navy’s Aegis
Combat System, the world’s foremost integrated naval weapon system. The utility
and reliability of Aegis technology has been demonstrated time and again. When
integrated with the Aegis Combat System, the Cooperative Engagement Capability
(CEC) will permit groups of ships and aircraft to link their radars to provide a
composite picture of the battle space, effectively increasing the theater space.
The capability is designed to provide the Navy with a 21st Century fighting
edge.
Five ships of the class are currently under construction. These
ships continue to be delivered at the highest quality, and serial production has
allowed cost to be reduced while increasing capabilities. Because of the ships’
range of capabilities, the Navy decided in 2009 to restart the DDG 51 program.
A DDG Modernization program is also underway for in-service
ships, commencing with USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) in mid-2010, to provide a
comprehensive mid-life upgrade that will ensure the DDG 51 class will maintain
mission relevance. The goal of the DDG Modernization effort is to reduce
workload requirements and increase war fighting capabilities while reducing
total ownership cost to the Navy through the use of a two-phase program. The
first phase will concentrate on the Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical systems. A
complete Open Architecture computing environment will be the foundation for war
fighting improvements in the second phase for each ship. Throughout their
expected service life, DDG 51 destroyers will continue to provide multi-mission
offensive and defensive capabilities with the added benefit of Sea-based
protection from the ballistic missile threat.