DDG(X): The U.S. Navy’s New Destroyer Could Fire Lasers and Hypersonic Missiles

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Key Points: The DDG(X) is the U.S. Navy’s next-generation destroyer, expected to debut in the early 2030s. The vessel integrates cutting-edge technologies, including hypersonic missiles, 600kw lasers, an expanded Vertical Launch System (VLS), and Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Power and Energy System (IPES), which enhances power efficiency and energy distribution.

-Designed to surpass current Zumwalt-class capabilities, the DDG(X) promises increased range, reduced fuel consumption, and a larger arsenal.

-While some critics question its estimated $3.2 billion price per ship, the DDG(X) aims to balance proven technologies with leap-ahead advancements to ensure long-term upgradeability and dominance in maritime warfare.

DDG(X): The U.S. Navy’s Future-Ready Destroyer Explained

High-energy laser weapons, hypersonic missiles, increased Vertical Launch Systems, a more significant attack arsenal, and a next-generation propulsion system are all critical elements of the US Navy’s nascent next-generation destroyer, DDG(X). 

Although still in its conceptual phase and subsystem technology development, the service plans to field this new generation of advanced destroyers at the beginning of the next decade. 

The advanced technologies do appear significant, especially when it comes to onboard power to support laser weapons, ship defenses, and an electric-drive Integrated Power and Energy System(IPES) designed to optimize fuel efficiency, power, propulsion, and energy storage, capacity, and distribution.  

However, some may question the true margin of difference regarding just how much the DDG(X) will advance breakthrough technologies, as some of what’s planned for the DDG(X) is already here to an extent.  

For example, the now-in-development Navy Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic weapons are slated to fire from Zumwalt class destroyers by 2025, and submarines by 2028, and lasers are already being integrated into existing warships at an accelerated pace. 

Therefore, what exactly are the leap-ahead technologies, and do they justify the high cost of the ship, which is expected to be greater than $3.2 billion per vessel? 

Some critics on the Hill are expressing concern about the ship’s anticipated high cost and suggesting that the upgraded weapons and technologies could be successfully integrated into existing vessels. 

Navy Strategy for DDG(X) Destroyer

For years, the US Navy has maintained a dual-path approach to the DDG(X) designed to lower production costs and expedite development while ensuring the ship is equipped with a massive amount of extra firepower and leap-ahead technologies.  

The Navy’s plan and intent for the new ship articulated several years ago at the Navy League’s Sea Air Space symposium, is to model some of its basic structure, hull, and technical foundations upon the now emerging DDG 51 Flight III Destroyers while also ensuring an entirely new generation of technologies is woven into the ship.

Interestingly, a Congressional Research Service report from as far back as 2022 says the new ship could integrate “non-developmental systems” into a new hull design and meet future requirements. CRS Report, titled Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program, seems to indicate that the ship could present valuable breakthroughs. 

Of course, the goal is to streamline production and leverage the best available systems while ensuring that the new ship is equipped with a collection of critical unprecedented technologies, capabilities, and weapons. 

Most of all, the DDG(X) plan ensures the ship is “upgradeable” for the long term and can accommodate new weapons as they emerge.  

Therefore, the Navy’s long-standing plan for the ship involves a paradox: The service seeks to incorporate the best of existing technology yet still integrate paradigm-changing new systems, weapons, power storage, and possibly a redesigned hull. 

As the most advanced US Navy destroyers currently being built, Flight III Arleigh Burke-class ships incorporate paradigm-changing SPY-6 radar advancements related to image fidelity, networking, detection range, and fire control compared with previous DDG 51 models.  

DDG(X) Leap Ahead? 

A close look at the Navy’s conceptual rendering of the DDG(X) from as far back as 2022 indicates that, indeed, the vision for the vessel does incorporate previously unprecedented technologies. 

Navy specs from several years back state that the DDG(X)’s advanced systems will generate a 50-percent increase in range, 120-percent greater time on station, and a 25-percent reduction in fuel usage. 

One of the largest advantages of the new DDG(X) will be its pure mass, size, and firepower. The ship will be larger and incorporate a much higher number of offensive and defensive weapons. It will also include a larger midsection and hangar space to accommodate more drones, helicopters, and new weapons. 

Since early conceptual work on the ship, the US Navy and industry work on subsystems has made substantial progress.

Indeed, the DDG(X) does appear poised to incorporate a series of leap-ahead technologies.  The designs for the ship include power for at least two 600kw lasers, as many as 21 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers for added layered defense and as many as 32 Mk 41 VLS launchers for Tomahawks and interceptor missiles such as SM-3s and SM-6s.  

The US Navy’s Deputy Program Manager for the DDG(X) in 2022, Katie Connelly, said the new destroyers will have more powerful lasers, much larger arrays, an upgraded X-band radar, additional VLS cells, large missile launchers, and even a next-generation IPES energy system engineered to exceed the IPS now integrated into the Zumwalt.  

Specifically, the USS Zumwalt has an IPS electric drive propulsion system, which not only increases fuel efficiency but also generates breakthrough levels of onboard electrical power. 

The DDG(X), however, will take this a step further and incorporate Northrop Grumman’s IPES Integrated Power and Energy System, which adds a substantial new ability to maximize power storage and distribution throughout the ship’s systems. 

About the Author: Kris Osborn 

Kris Osborn is the Military Affairs Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.