Arleigh Burke DDG Ship Brief (Patreon)

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.