The DDGX, Constellation and the Future of US Navy Surface Warfare

[Sailor.X]

We are well into the 21st century now. Many of the Warship designs that were brand new when I was in the US Navy over 30 years ago. Are now reaching the end of their hull life and upgrade potential. Now the fleet has to look to the Future. To learn from the mistakes that were the Zumwalt and LCS Class ships. And field a fleet that will carry us far into the later half of the century. These are the classes on deck today.

DDGX

The Constellation Class

The Ford Class

Flight III Arleigh Burke Class DDG

These ships are the ones that will be in the near future. But what do you think will be the follow replacements for them in the 2060 and 2070s?

 

[History Learner]

These ships are the ones that will be in the near future. But what do you think will be the follow replacements for them in the 2060 and 2070s?

Carriers being replaced by something like the Russian Kirovs, probably called Battleships in the same way the Kirovs are Battlecruisers. Carriers don't make much sense when hypersonic missiles with ranges at up to 10,000 miles don't exist. It's easier to just have a "Battleship" bombard targets from 10,000 miles away with its missiles. Or, if we can finally get it figured out, railguns.

 

[Knowledgeispower]

For the Constellations I suspect the later flights will excercise the option to add 16 more VLS cells at the expense of another 20 or so million dollars and 200 or so additional tons. Honestly I suspect the reason the Flight Is won't have it is a matter of doing the modifications to the design would have taken awhile to figure out and the navy needs hulls ASAP. Also the Zulmwalt class as a hull has no problems its the fact that they fucked up the program that's the problem

 

[Sailor.X]

For the Constellations I suspect the later flights will excercise the option to add 16 more VLS cells at the expense of another 20 or so million dollars and 200 or so additional tons. Honestly I suspect the reason the Flight Is won't have it is a matter of doing the modifications to the design would have taken awhile to figure out and the navy needs hulls ASAP. Also the Zulmwalt class as a hull has no problems its the fact that they fucked up the program that's the problem

I think it was stated in one video that the Constellations will be done in flights to allow for tech insertion down the road..

I think the Battleship might make a comeback in the 2060s and 2070s. By firing not only long range Railgun rounds. But firing specialized drones via the gun itself. With said drones being kamikaze style. flying deep inland thanks to the speed assist from the guns. I have heard the concept mentioned quite a few times.

 

[Spartan303]

Nothing on a new Cruiser class?

 

[Sailor.X]

Nothing on a new Cruiser class?

The DDGX program might spawn a new cruiser like the Spruances spawned the Ticos.

 

[LordsFire]

I think it was stated in one video that the Constellations will be done in flights to allow for tech insertion down the road..

I think the Battleship might make a comeback in the 2060s and 2070s. By firing not only long range Railgun rounds. But firing specialized drones via the gun itself. With said drones being kamikaze style. flying deep inland thanks to the speed assist from the guns. I have heard the concept mentioned quite a few times.

I think the full implications of Drones just are not sufficiently understood for predictions out to the 2060's and 70's to mean anything. Hell, I'll be in my 70's/80's by then.

It'd be a bit like a WWI Veteran trying to predict the role of Carriers and Battleships in the 1950's. Sure, one or two oddballs might get it right, but for the most part there's just going to be too much change.

 

[Sailor.X]

I think the full implications of Drones just are not sufficiently understood for predictions out to the 2060's and 70's to mean anything. Hell, I'll be in my 70's/80's by then.

It'd be a bit like a WWI Veteran trying to predict the role of Carriers and Battleships in the 1950's. Sure, one or two oddballs might get it right, but for the most part there's just going to be too much change.

Just going off what has been said about possible launch methods for Drones and large Naval guns keep coming up as an option.

 

[Knowledgeispower]

The DDGX program might spawn a new cruiser like the Spruances spawned the Ticos.

Its that or using something based off the zumwalt hull. Which certainly is about the right size to be a crusier

 

[Sailor.X]

Its that or using something based off the zumwalt hull. Which certainly is about the right size to be a crusier

If I am not mistaken they had a CGNX project the same time as the Zumwalts were being planned. But I think it got canceled because of the cost overruns.

 

[Megadeath]

As someone with a very layman level understanding I'm curious, will future navies need to go more nuclear to meet the power generation requirements for lasers and rail guns? Actually, now that I ask that, I can see an assumption I ought to question; do nuclear reactors actually provide significantly more power than other options for ships? As a final stupid question, as we're currently limited to relatively low power lasers would it not make sense on a ship that has the power generation to handle it to mount almost an old fashioned broad side of laser mounts? I.e. Couldn't something like the Ford class have say a dozen or so mounted protruding horizontally from the flight deck, capable of independently destroying many small incoming targets or working together to more effectively deal with larger ones?

 

[Knowledgeispower]

If I am not mistaken they had a CGNX project the same time as the Zumwalts were being planned. But I think it got canceled because of the cost overruns.

cost overruns and the whole needing to pay for 2 expensive wars.

 

[Spartan303]

As someone with a very layman level understanding I'm curious, will future navies need to go more nuclear to meet the power generation requirements for lasers and rail guns? Actually, now that I ask that, I can see an assumption I ought to question; do nuclear reactors actually provide significantly more power than other options for ships? As a final stupid question, as we're currently limited to relatively low power lasers would it not make sense on a ship that has the power generation to handle it to mount almost an old fashioned broad side of laser mounts? I.e. Couldn't something like the Ford class have say a dozen or so mounted protruding horizontally from the flight deck, capable of independently destroying many small incoming targets or working together to more effectively deal with larger ones?

Nuclear is the best option. Its more expensive upfront but cuts down on refueling costs as you only need to refuel every few decades or so. Its also the only means to really power current needs and future technological growth. Current non nuclear power just doesn't provide that kind of juice when needed.

 

[Knowledgeispower]

Nuclear is the best option. Its more expensive upfront but cuts down on refueling costs as you only need to refuel every few decades or so. Its also the only means to really power current needs and future technological growth. Current non nuclear power just doesn't provide that kind of juice when needed.

Of course nuclear does have a lot of specialist manpower requirements as well

 

[Sailor.X]

Nuclear is the best option. Its more expensive upfront but cuts down on refueling costs as you only need to refuel every few decades or so. Its also the only means to really power current needs and future technological growth. Current non nuclear power just doesn't provide that kind of juice when needed.

Yeah Nuclear is the best option for powering lasers.

Of course nuclear does have a lot of specialist manpower requirements as well

Which is Nuke School and the psychological mind games that brings to the table.

 

[Spartan303]

@Sailor.X from what I've heard from some Navy friends, roughly almost a third of the fleet isn't in the best of shape. Seems some of these ships are in need of drydock time and basic maintenance and upgrades. Is any of this true?

 

[Knowledgeispower]

Part of that is that the yards themselves need seriously large amount of upgrades. As in buy 3 fords to pay for all of them levels. That the years of stupid sequestration under obama

 

[Spartan303]

Part of that is that the yards themselves need seriously large amount of upgrades. As in buy 3 fords to pay for all of them levels. That the years of stupid sequestration under obama

Are they getting the upgrades? Cause that isn't saying good things about the fleet right now.

 

[Knowledgeispower]

Are they getting the upgrades? Cause that isn't saying good things about the fleet right now.

The navy is asking Congress to fork over 4 billion a year for the next decade to address fixing up its bases and yards from what i recall. They have the plans just need the funding allotted

 

[Spartan303]

Jesus...it never should have been allowed to get this bad.