The Zumwalt-class destroyer is actually an experimental product. It integrates all the most cutting-edge technologies in the United States and is designed as a multi-mission offshore attack ship and an Aegis defense ship.
Although the current design concept of this ship is actually a long time ago, the U.S. Navy has always wanted to build a type of ship that integrates destroyer area air defense and battleship fire support. At that time, it named this plan DD-21 ship. The original name of this ship is DD(X), which is a smaller version of the larger DD-21 ship (an arsenal ship that meets two needs at the same time) after project review and deletion. But in the end, the positioning of DDX became very vague, and the United States itself was wavering. They had no idea what the main mission of this ship was.
So rather than saying that the Zumwalt class is powerful, it is better to say that its concept is advanced. For example, it adopts a comprehensive stealth design, "integrated power system", automatic supply, automatic fire extinguishing, personnel reduction and automation, etc., and adopts a comprehensive modular construction method. These are all desirable. However, she still cannot escape the title of experimental ship: Originally, the U.S. Navy planned to purchase a large number of it, planning to purchase 32 ships. Because the cost of new experimental technology was too high, the number of ships to be built was reduced to 24, and then to 7. Later, in order to free up budget to continue building new Arleigh Burke-class Type IIAs, it was finally decided to build only three new Zumwalt-class ships, scheduled as DDG-1000, DDG-1001 and DDG-1002.
Generally speaking, the initial design of the Zumwalt-class destroyer must meet the following characteristics:
Low radar cross-section;
An "integrated power system" , can transmit power to motors or weapons, and will be equipped with railguns in the future;
Total ship computerized architecture (TSCE-I) integrates a single equipment platform and a ship-wide local area network (LAN) into one Under unified software;
Automatic combat system and automatic damage compartment system. Compared with other destroyers, the entire ship is designed to operate with very few personnel and costs;
The angled ship side is tilted from the waterline, which can further make it invisible and reduce some fuel.
In order to achieve these characteristics or requirements, the detailed design and integration stage was entered, and Raytheon Company was determined to be responsible for mission system integration. Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Company and General Dynamics Baston Steel Division manufacture the hull, motors, and detailed circuits. BAE Systems completed the advanced gun and Mk57 vertical launch system. Major defense contractors (including Lockheed, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine, L-3 Communications) and subcontractors, as well as every U.S. state, received some work on the project. It is also the largest single line item in the U.S. Navy's budget.
Among so many advanced equipment, the most practical one currently is the upgrade of the Aegis combat system radar to the AN/SPY-3 active phased array radar. Currently, the U.S. Navy is equipped with this type of radar only on the Zumwalt class and the latest generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the Ford class.
Then there is the "overall power system", which can be said to be a step closer to the all-electric propulsion (British Type 45 destroyer and the latest Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier) and is the first step in the battleship power system. revolution.
Other things are extremely embarrassing from the current perspective, and have also suffered great criticism in the United States. First of all, the Zumwalt class canceled the traditional naval gun on the bow. The 127mm naval gun equipped with the Arleigh Burke class and the Ticonderoga class was completely abandoned. It was replaced by the Advanced Gun System developed by BAE Systems. This system is a 155mm gun. The ship will be equipped with two guns, and the ammunition is a type of artillery shell called a "Long Range Land Attack Projectile" (Long Range Land Attack Projectile), which is actually a rocket fired by an advanced artillery. The shell is loaded with 11 kilograms of explosives, and the designed circular probability error is within 50 meters.
The current range is 59 nautical miles, and the range is expected to be 100 nautical miles. The artillery barrel incorporates a liquid-cooling design to slow down overheating, and the magazine feeding will be automated. Each magazine can carry 750 rounds of artillery shells. With the AGS's rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute, the firepower projected by the two naval guns on the Songhua Special Class can theoretically be equivalent to 18 M-198 howitzers of the same caliber.
At present, this gun seems to be no different from the ship-borne version of the howitzer, but such a gun is obviously not suitable for attacking ships. In fact, this gun is the United States that has always missed the ability of the battleship main gun to support the shore. In Iowa After the Chinese battleship retired, it was always looking for a replacement for this type of main gun, and the AGS came into being. Although it seems to be a return to the era of the battleship's giant guns, the main gun is indeed driven by its irreplaceable tactical purpose. The problem lies in the "guided projectile" capability and the range of 63 nautical miles. However, such shells require new warheads and technology, so many of the shells used on today's guided missile cruisers have much shorter ranges. Some sub-caliber rounds have been developed for use on warships for many years; for example, an 11-inch sub-caliber round for the 16"/50 Mark 7 naval gun was tested in the 1960s, but the estimated price of each long-range round and specifications were made in the 1980s, and were for the AGS of the early DD21 arsenal ship plan rather than the current DDX.
Then there is the reliability and quantity of the new vertical launch system layout. First of all, DDX gave up. The general vertical launch system layout means that the launch system is located in the middle of the hull, but Yigao people boldly chose the peripheral vertical launch system (PVLS) to make room for the center of the hull; and to increase safety and avoid missile failure. Or the ship will sink if the ammunition depot explodes. This system consists of dispersed vertical launch modules VLS surrounding the hull. The launch module has a thin outer shell and a thick inner shell, so even if the missile explodes, there will be no impact. Half of the power is damaged by the ship. In addition, this design can also minimize the loss of missile launch capability when the hull is damaged. It sounds good, but the DDX is currently equipped with only 80 units of the Mk57 vertical launch system, which was originally planned. It is 117-118 units. You must know that the DDX has a displacement of more than 14,000 tons, which is still relatively small and has weaker firepower than the original DD21 project setting (16,000 tons). There are a lot of self-destructed legs, which are even less than those of the smaller Ticonderoga-class or Arleigh Burke-class missiles (88 and 90 respectively, and the Arleigh Burke IIA has 96 Mk41). Because compared to the latter which is dedicated to air defense, the Zumwalt class must also play the role of shore bombardment.
The hull structure has also been questioned by American experts. The most controversial one is the oblique type. Shipside design. After all, warships with angled hulls have not been used in actual combat since the Battle of Tsushima Strait in 1905. The Zumwalt class is now reversing and returning to the angled hull starting from the deck. The bevel that widens toward the waterline can reflect radar waves, and the bow is designed to ride on waves. However, this design is contrary to the normal seaworthiness of the water. In early 2007, there was a report about the DDG-1000 bevel in the United States. The report said, "The problem arises when the ship is parked at sea. If you use an angled hull, you have to rely on a positive force from the stern to stabilize the hull. In the case of the DDG 1000, when a wave comes from behind and the boat comes to rest, it loses lateral stability because the stern is suspended in the air by the wave - causing it to capsize. ”
Another unimaginable thing is that DDX has completely given up any close-in defense system. There is no Phalanx, no SeaRAM, and the medium and short-range air defense is completely handed over to the ESSM improved Sea Sparrow. If there is any leakage, The fish situation is unimaginable.
On the whole, the Zumwalt class integrates advanced technology, but its shortcomings are undoubtedly more obvious.
Originally, the phased array radar was replaced and the fire channel was increased, but in order to make way for fire support, the anti-saturation attack power of the vertical launch unit was reduced, which made it even worse. The AGS used for fire support currently does not meet the requirements for ammunition. No bombs; the structure is very controversial. It is a question mark whether the angled shipside design, which is contrary to seaworthiness, will affect the stability of the ship body; there is no close-in defense weapon system, and interception is completely a one-shot deal. The mark is - Even if 6 and ESSM can stop them, they will just give up if they can't.
The design concept of this ship is also very confusing. It wants to do everything, but can't do anything well. It has insufficient air defense and anti-saturation attack. The latest gadgets for land and fire support are not easy to use now. If it is installed in the future, The magnetic rail run demolished one of the two AGS, and the fire support was not enough. . . . . . The price/performance ratio is too poor. The cost of building a DDG-1000 is almost 2/3 of the Ford class. As a result, there are many problems
The U.S. Navy itself also distrusts it. It canceled 29 ships and continued to return to mature and advanced ones. Arleigh Burke IIA is the best evidence