DDG(X) Concept Development

Abstract

To compete and win in an era of great power competition, the United States needs a balanced Naval force, capable of striking targets from all domains. The force design must emphasize distributed awareness, lethality and survivability in high-intensity conflict. The force must be adaptable, demonstrate presence, and be capable of projecting power by delivering precision effects at long ranges. The Future Naval Force Study (FNFS) and the Future Surface Combatant Force Analysis of Alternatives (FSCF AoA) identified the requirement for future large surface combatants (LSCs) to be capable of hosting directed energy (DE) weapons, larger missiles for increased range and speed, increased magazine depth, growth in organic sensors, and an efficient integrated power system to manage the dynamic loads. DDG 51 Flight (FLT) III is highly capable, but after over 40 years in production and 30 years of upgrades the hull form does not provide sufficient space and center of gravity margin to host these future capabilities. To reset these design allowances for the future of naval warfare, requirements tradeoff and design studies were performed from FY 2018 to FY 2020 that considered modification of existing surface combatant and amphibious ships in addition to new concepts. These studies concluded that DDG(X) is required to deliver the necessary margins and flexibility to succeed the DDG 51 Class as the next enduring LSC combining the DDG 51 FLT III combat system elements with new hull form, an efficient Integrated Power System (IPS) and greater endurance reducing the Fleet logistics burden. By including the DDG 51 FLT III combat system in a new DDG(X) hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E) baseline, Navy is taking an "evolutionary" (vice "revolutionary") approach to the class. This is a critical lesson learned proven by the successful evolution of the original DD 963 Spruance design of the early 1970s that focused on lead ship HM&E capabilities and upgraded warfare capability over the next 50 years, including evolving DD 963 into the CG 52 class and incorporating the Aegis Combat System. In the early 1980's, the DDG 51 class applied a similar approach by incorporating the proven Aegis Combat System into a new hull form and subsequently executed upgrades over a period greater than 40 years before reaching hull limitations on incorporation of new, larger systems. When DDG(X) enters production, over 30 DDG 51 FLT III Ships will have been in production and early DDG(X) production transition will overlap DDG 51 FLT III production ensuring stability in the Large Surface Combatant industrial base. Furthermore, the fist DDG 51 FLT III ship entered production in FY 2017 and will not be able to accommodate any significant capability upgrades dues to SWAP-c constraints. The CNO approved DDG(X) Top Level Requirements (TLR) in December 2020 that set the basis for a draft Capabilities Development Document (CDD) released in October 2021. Based on evolving threats and recent Battlegroup deployment feedback, the operational community is revalidating the requirements. A revision of the 2021 draft CDD will be focused on concept formulation; collaboration with DDG 51 shipyards in program planning; and targeted trade studies to achieve the CNO's cost, schedule and performance targets. Building on FY 2023 efforts established derived requirements from the Draft CDD; specification development; completed system development planning; established development and test planning for critical systems per sections 1034 and 131 of the FY 2020 NDAA. The planned DDG 51 FLT III follow-on procurements will maintain the industrial base while the DDG(X) design and risk reduction efforts are executed in parallel.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 0411_0603564N_4_1319_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
• Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy
• Space