Hull

Various hull configurations are currently being tested at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock and NSWC Philadelphia. A concept presented at the 2022 Surface Warfare Symposium depicts an angular hull form with displacement of 13,290 long tons (13,500 t), a conventional bow and a superstructure reminiscent of the Zumwalt-class destroyer. Future vessels of the class may be lengthened with a payload module for additional capabilities.^[4][14]

The DDG(X) hull design will incorporate lessons and elements from both the Arleigh Burke and Zumwalt designs. The vessels will be able to accommodate larger missile launch systems, improved survivability, and space, weight, power, and cooling margins for future growth. As the ships will replace the Ticonderoga-class cruisers, they will have air defense command and control facilities and accommodations for an admiral's staff.^[15]

Parts of the design concept of the DDG(X) have also been noted as externally similar to the Chinese Type 055 destroyer by some defense analysts, with two classes of ship sharing similar stealth profiles, propulsion configurations, and vertical launch system placements.^[16][17]

Propulsion

The DDG(X) will use Integrated Power System (IPS), a modern integrated turboelectric drive as employed on the Zumwalt class. The vessels are expected to have 50% greater range, a 120% greater time on station, and a 25% reduction in fuel burn compared to current U.S. Navy destroyers.^[4]

Sensors

The sensors will initially be enlarged variants of the AN/SPY-6 radar mounted on the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The hull is designed with provisions for upgraded sensors in the future, including larger radar arrays.^[4]

Weapons

The Navy states that the baseline DDG(X) design, like the Flight III DDG-51 design, is to include 96 standard Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, with an ability to incorporate 12 large missile launch cells in place of 32 of the 96 standard VLS cells.^[18] The vessels will be initially fitted with 32-cell blocks of the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System, with the concept image of the hull showing at least 3 such blocks. Instead of the Mk 41 block, large-cell launchers for hypersonic missiles can also be accepted, where existing naval missiles like RIM-174 Standard ERAM and BGM-109 Tomahawk could be quad-packed into the larger canister, leveraging design improvements in the Mk 41 Single Cell Launcher and U.S. Army's Typhon launcher from the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) program.^[19]

The concept image shows the vessel mounting a main 5-inch (127-mm)/62 cal Mark 45 Mod 4 gun. Upgraded versions of the class may incorporate directed energy weapons, with lasers ranging from 150 to 600 kW.^[4]