During the retirement ceremony of the head of the US Navy’s new destroyer DDG(X) Program Office, Captain Matt Schroeder, a new design of the ship, different from the previous ones, was presented. The DDG(X) program is in the design phase, which means that the final configuration of the ship has not yet been selected. The first design of the DDG(X) was presented during the international exhibition “SNA 2022”. This design showed the ship with a Mk.45 Mod.4 127 mm main gun, 32 vertical cells Mk.41 VLS in the bow, a laser weapon, an AN/SLQ-32(V)7 electronic warfare system and an AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar. The new design shows significant changes to the ships’ armament (the stern of the ship is not visible). Specifically, it appears that the Mk.45 Mod.4 main gun has been removed, while the vertical cells have been increased to 64, in four clusters of 2 x 8 launchers. This option leaves room for the possible integration of Lockheed Martin’s new G-VLS (Growth-VLS) vertical launcher, which can integrate missiles of greater length and diameter. The laser weapon has also been removed. The bridge windows have been limited to the side surfaces and appear smaller in size. The AN/SLQ-32(V)7 electronic warfare system is not visible, but has probably been moved, as it is a main system that the US Navy wants on the DDG(X). Other systems appear to have been installed in its place. The Mk.144 GML (Guided Missile Launchers) launchers have been raised, while the funnels have a new design and direction towards the bow. The two AN/SPG-62 semi-active radar homing missile guidance systems have been removed, likely for the same reasons as those removed from the “Constellation” frigates. The superstructure appears to have been redesigned, with a lower height and a slope towards the bow, likely to enhance the ship’s Stealth characteristics. However, the overall length of the DDG(X) appears to be greater than the 2022 design. In any case, it should be noted that this design is not the final one and will likely be modified in the future. According to the current design, the US Navy wants to begin construction of the first DDG(X) in 2032.
