Navy Launches Next-Generation Stealth Destroyer
Whatever your thoughts on the American military, it's safe to say that from a techie's perspective, they consistently make some really cool stuff. This week the U.S. is launching the first of its modern stealth destroyers.
Coming in at over 600 feet long and 14,500 tons, the ship is massive for a destroyer -- but as far as radar's concerned, it's little more than a fishing dingy. That small radar cross-section is due in large part to its harsh angle and specialized paint that the U.S. military has been using for some time in other stealth projects like the F-117 Nighthawk.
The USS Zumwalt is the first in the Zumwalt class. All of the ships in the class will be capable of multi-role support including anti-air defense and guided missile ground attack. Among other features, the ships use an integrated power system -- meaning that propulsion and the rest of the ship's functions are all tied into the same distribution. It's an interesting system, and it also serves the ship's main focus of being almost undetectable. In the same way that electric cars are spectacularly quiet, the Zumwalt's electric motors dramatically reduce the chances of its detection via sonar. Additionally, the ship uses specialized cooling systems which cut down on the heat signature. Almost makes it sound like the SSV Normandy.
All in all, the new boat really is something of a technological marvel, but that didn't come without a cost. Due to budget cuts, there were originally 32 ships of the class planned, but over time, that's been cut down to just three, causing a huge increase in the cost-per-ship, especially when research and development is taken into account. Then again, the new power system was designed to support potential expansion for free-electron lasers and rail guns, and this sentence might be the most awesome thing I'll ever write.
I can understand wanting to cut down noise to try to hide from submarines, which rely on their own intel rather than surface intel... but the rest of it just seems like pointlessly wasted money.
ITS CAPTAIN JAMES KIRK THAT WILL BE IN CONTROL!!!
- This sounds like the F-35 Lightning II through its development. Tons of cash dumped into it (F-35), and it only got worse since day one...
ITS CAPTAIN JAMES KIRK THAT WILL BE IN CONTROL!!!
I can understand wanting to cut down noise to try to hide from submarines, which rely on their own intel rather than surface intel... but the rest of it just seems like pointlessly wasted money.
It's a simple choice between fear and love.
According to wikipedia, these things cost an eye-watering US$3.45B each to build (and US$7B each including R&D).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zumwalt-class_destroyer
So, whet US and CCCP kept in check-mate rest of the world for 40 years it was ok, right? And when other countries get to know nuclear power, then its like "oh my god, they are gonna kill us!"
Can I borrow the keys? Pleeeeaaase!
I can understand wanting to cut down noise to try to hide from submarines, which rely on their own intel rather than surface intel... but the rest of it just seems like pointlessly wasted money.
I read this comment earlier and i was going to ignore it but really?
are you retarded? yeah of course they'll notice a big grey ship, its not like they've been painting it that colour for over 100 years to blend it in or anything. Do you even know how satalite recon works? for stationary targets its great, for moving targets its useless. You cant just pick an area of sea and look at it at will, you have to wait for your satellite to fly over it and you only get a certain time frame while it orbits and comes back around. Even if the satellite did happen to fly over it, its a grey ship on a grey sea, i mean do you have any idea how big the sea is? It would be pot luck if you found it and by the time you realise you had found it it would have moved miles, you cant track moving objects with satellite imaging.
/rant
It will still perform very well, but the 3 ships of the class are technology demonstrators used to gain knowledge on new propulsion tech, tumblehome shape, and a much more powerful radar system. The U.S. Navy will use this knowledge to build their future fleets of Burkes or Ticonderoga replacements, just as they used the Seawolf submarines as a demonstrator for the Virginia-class.
Frankly, because of the size and firepower, I can't tell if it is a cruiser, destroyer, battlecruiser, or battleship (due to the two 155-mm cannons).;D
You have been reported for an abusive/inflammatory post. Have a nice day.
You have been reported for an abusive/inflammatory post. Have a nice day.
Nice 2500K you have there.