Arleigh Burke DDG Ship Brief (Patreon)
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The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are a class of guided missile destroyers built for the United States Navy. Named after Admiral Arleigh Burke, the class incorporates several advanced technologies and design features to enhance their combat capabilities and survivability. The class is divided into multiple flights, each representing an evolutionary improvement over the previous designs:
Flight I (DDG-51 to DDG-71)
Commissioned: 1991-1998
Displacement: 8,315 tons (full load)
Length: 505 feet (154 meters)
Propulsion: 4 General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, 100,000 shaft horsepower (75 MW)
Speed: 30+ knots
Armament:
Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) with 90 cells
Harpoon anti-ship missiles
Standard Missile (SM-2) air defense
Tomahawk cruise missiles
Mk 45 5-inch/54 caliber gun
Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
Torpedo tubes
Sensors: AN/SPY-1D radar, Aegis Combat System, sonar suite
Aircraft: 1 SH-60 Seahawk helicopter (flight deck only, no hangar)
Flight II (DDG-72 to DDG-78)
Commissioned: 1997-2001
Displacement: Similar to Flight I
Length: Similar to Flight I
Improvements: Enhanced air defense capabilities, improved radar and sonar systems
Armament: Similar to Flight I with updated missile configurations
Flight IIA (DDG-79 to DDG-124)
Commissioned: 2000-present
Displacement: 9,200 tons (full load)
Length: 509 feet (155 meters)
Features: Addition of hangar for two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, expanded flight deck
Armament:
Mk 41 VLS with 96 cells
Enhanced anti-air and anti-ship missile systems
Improved Mk 45 5-inch/62 caliber gun
Sensors: Upgraded radar and sonar systems, improved electronic warfare capabilities
Flight III (DDG-125 and beyond)
Commissioned: Expected from 2023 onwards
Displacement: Approximately 9,800 tons (full load)
Length: Similar to Flight IIA
Features: Advanced AN/SPY-6 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) for improved detection and engagement of ballistic missiles, enhanced power generation and cooling systems
Armament:
Mk 41 VLS with 96 cells, optimized for SM-3 and SM-6 missiles
Improved naval guns and missile systems
Integration of advanced electronic warfare and cyber capabilities
Sensors: AN/SPY-6 AMDR, enhanced sonar systems
Common Features Across All Flights:
Propulsion: Gas turbine engines providing high speed and maneuverability
Design: Stealth features to reduce radar cross-section
Combat System: Aegis Combat System, providing robust air, surface, and subsurface warfare capabilities
Crew: Approximately 280-300 officers and enlisted personnel
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are considered among the most advanced and capable surface combatants in the world, designed to perform a variety of missions, including anti-aircraft warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and strike warfare.