BATH,
Maine – The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the
lead ship of the Navy’s next-generation of multi-mission surface combatants,
May 20.
DDG
1000 is tailored for sustained operations in the littorals and land attack, and
will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special
operations forces, and operate as an integral part of joint and combined
expeditionary forces.
Ship
delivery follows extensive tests, trials and demonstrations of the ship’s Hull,
Mechanical, and Electrical systems including the ship’s boat handling, anchor
and mooring systems as well as major demonstrations of the damage control,
ballasting, navigation and communications systems.
“Today
represents a significant achievement for not only the DDG 1000 program and
shipbuilding team but for the entire U.S. Navy,” said Rear Adm. (select) Jim
Downey, DDG 1000 program manager, Program Executive Office Ships. “This
impressive ship incorporates a new design alongside the integration of
sophisticated new technologies that will lead the Navy into the next generation
of capabilities.”
The
610 foot, wave-piercing tumblehome ship design provides a wide array of
advancements. The shape of the superstructure and the arrangement of its
antennas significantly reduce radar cross section, making the ship less visible
to enemy radar at sea.
Zumwalt
is the first U.S. Navy surface combatant to employ an innovative and highly
survivable Integrated Power System (IPS) distributing 1000 volts of direct
current across the ship. The IPS’ unique architectural capabilities include the
ability to allocate all 78 megawatts of installed power to propulsion, ship’s
service, and combat system loads from the same gas turbine prime movers based
on operational requirements. Each ship in the class features a battery of two
Advanced Gun Systems (AGS), capable of firing Long-Range Land Attack
Projectiles (LRLAP) that reach up to 63 nautical miles, providing three-fold
range improvement in naval surface fires coverage. Each ship is equipped with
eighty Advanced Vertical Launch (AVLS) cells for Tomahawk missiles, Evolved Sea
Sparrow Missile (ESSM), Standard Missiles, and Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine
Rockets (ASROC) (VLA).
The
ship will employ active and passive sensors and a Multi-Function Radar (MFR)
capable of conducting area air surveillance, including over-land, throughout
the extremely difficult and cluttered sea-land interface.
Following
delivery and a crew certification period at General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works
(BIW), the ship will be commissioned in Baltimore, Maryland Oct. 15. Zumwalt will then transit to her homeport in
San Diego where Mission Systems Activation will continue in parallel with a
Post Delivery Availability.
“Zumwalt's
crew has diligently trained for months in preparation of this day and they are
ready and excited to take charge of this ship on behalf of the U.S. Navy,"
said Capt. James Kirk, commanding officer of the future Zumwalt. “These are 143
of our nation's finest men and women who continue to honor Admiral Zumwalt's
namesake with their dedication to bringing this ship to life.”
BIW
is also constructing follow-on ships, the future Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) and
Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002).
As
one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is
responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers,
amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.