Taken together, the Zumwalt (DDG 1000)-class destroyers, Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)-class aircraft carriers and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) represent the greatest technological leap of faith in naval shipbuilding history.
Each design contains a far higher degree over previous levels of new and unproven technologies and concepts – sometimes beyond original Navy recommendations — and all are coming into operational service within a relatively short time.
As expected, all three types have serious issues, of which LCS is perhaps the most prominent and controversial. Technology is not the issue with LCS; rather it’s the ships’ modular equipment packages, untried operational profiles and basic concepts.
Zumwalt, representing the naval epitome of the 1990s-era stealth craze, is packed with new technologies, including an integrated power layout that combines electrical power for propulsion, weapons and sensors. Ford similarly has much greater electrical power than previous designs, along with all-new technologies to launch and recover aircraft.
This article is part of a larger Defense News 30-year anniversary project, showcasing the people, programs and innovations from the last three decades that most shaped the global security arena. Go to defensenews.com/30th to see all of our coverage.
