RTR/EW destroyers for the US Navy

Four destroyers will become test ships for the Navy. The total cost of the program is $17 billion to modernize Block II A destroyers in the field of electronic warfare, according to destroyer modernization program manager Capt. 1st Rank Tim Moore.

Late last year, the destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG-91) completed the first part of a two-phase modernization program and left the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California. Some sailors compared the ship's new look to Carrie Fisher's (Princess Leia) double hairdo in Star Wars.

The sponsons, two decks high, were added to Pinckney's superstructure during a $121 million renovation that also included upgrades to the ship's systems, hull and propulsion plant. Additionally, a new Northrop Grumman-built Block III system, an improved version of the AN/SLQ-32(V)7 or SEWIP Block III electronic warfare system, is installed.

This destroyer is the first of four ships that will receive radical changes to the bow superstructure. Next in line are the James E. Williams (DDG-95), in Norfolk, Virginia, and the San Diego-based carriers Chung Hong (DDG-93) and Halsey (DDG-97).

The first phase includes the modernization of the HM&E combat system and the installation of SEWIP Block III. If the trial operation is successful, it is planned to modernize 16 more ships, but there are still certain questions with this.

As Tim Moore stated:

“Once we have modernized these four ships, we will bring the ships one by one to ensure complete modernization.”

The second phase of the upgrade will be to equip these ships with a new version of the AN/SPY-6 air and missile defense radar, manufactured by Raytheon, which will replace the current aging AN/SPY-1D(v) radar.

The SPY-6 version planned for the Pinckney is a smaller version of the radars developed for Arleigh Burkes Flight III, Raytheon's Mike Mills told USNI News.

Raytheon has already begun work on creating the two-by-two-foot modules that make up the AESA, which is expected to be installed sometime in 2027, Mills said.

The SPY-6(v)4 AFAR will include 24 modules, which is less than the 37 Raytheon AFAR modules that make up the Flight III version. The radar will be able to leverage the existing capacity of Block IIA destroyers, Moore said. Flight III's power needs prompted the Navy to undertake major upgrades to the propulsion system and electrical grid aboard the latest version of the Arleigh Burkes.

The four-ship modernization builds on the existing DDG modernization program, which covers all versions of the Arleigh Burkes, with the Baseline 9 combat system and more powerful computers that will allow the destroyers to intercept both ballistic missiles, traditional cruise missiles and aviation threats.

The DDG Mod 2.0 program was originally planned to be extended to 20 ships, USNI News reported last year. Now Captain 1st Rank Moore did not specify how many ships will be involved in the program, but confirmed that its estimated cost is $17 billion. He said the Navy is "still refining" the total cost.

On my own behalf, I can add that the destroyer looks somewhat comical (photo attached). One can only guess how seriously this will affect the “top” weight, stability, and, accordingly, the seaworthiness of ships.

Comments

[fa2998]

Well, they can afford to have special ships—the surface fleet is huge. Instead of writing it off, they will “work” for the safety of the squadron.

[Kote Pan Kokhanka]

Thank you for the article.
To be honest, I don’t understand what’s so funny about the destroyer in the photo for the article?

[Des]

The superstructure is inflated, perhaps).
They have desire, plans, opportunities and quiet time for implementation.

[Doccor18]

Quote: Kote pane Kohanka

To be honest, I don’t understand what’s so funny about the destroyer in the photo for the article?

"Chubby cheeks" add-ons...

To Article:

One can only guess how seriously this will affect the “top” weight, stability, and, accordingly, the seaworthiness of ships.

It is unlikely to have a significant effect on seaworthiness. These "cheeks/ears" cannot weigh enough to upset the balance of a 154m 10kt. ship.

[TermNachTer]

It's not clear from the photo how long they are. If for the entire length of the superstructure, for two inter-deck spaces, then they can weigh normally. It's steel, not aluminum.

[Simple]

Quote: TermNachTER

It's not clear from the photo how long they are.

........................

[TermNachTer]

I haven't seen these photos. Now it is clear that they will not significantly affect stability.

[TermNachTer]

These “ears” or Princess Leia’s braids look somewhat comical)))

[solar]

These are not special ships. This is the modernization of electronics (and not just electronic warfare/RTR), including AFAR radar, of previously released destroyers in order to bring their characteristics as close as possible to the level of the newest III series destroyers.

[Scharnhorst]

Yes. The second stage of modernization will be more interesting. They want to increase the four canvases of the existing Aegis with dimensions of 4,3 * 4,3 m to 6,1 * 6,1 m, which will entail a doubling of power consumption. The new AFAR is supposed to use two bands: the S-band (2-4 GHz), like the old one, will be intended for volumetric search, tracking, recognition and communication with missiles; The X-band (8-12 GHz) will be designed to provide horizontal search, precise tracking, communication with missiles and final target illumination. At the same time, in both ranges there will be the possibility of conducting electronic warfare, as on the latest generation aircraft radars, which will significantly increase energy potential and spatial accuracy of jamming enemy targets.

[TermNachTer]

The author of the article claims that Flight 2A energy should be enough. Perhaps the author is not very aware.

[Scharnhorst]

during a $121 million refurbishment that also included upgrades to the ship's systems, hull upgrades and power plant

Well, they probably didn’t change the running engines? And so, if three old continuous-wave radars are removed to illuminate targets at the final stage of guidance, transferring their functions to the X-band of the new radar, maybe the old energy will be enough. Because illumination radars were used only when firing missiles, and then only in the final section, and a reserve of electrical power had to be provided for them.

[TermNachTer]

Well, they are modernizing Flight 2A, they are not that old. The last ship from 2 A, delivered last year.

[solar]

Destroyers of the IΙA series began to be built towards the end of the 90s and were supposed to be the last series of Arly Berkov. But when they abandoned the Zamvolts and decided to make another IΙI series, the electronics for it were radically updated compared to the IΙA. Now they want to bring the older ships up to the level of the newest ones in electronics. The ships of the old series I and IΙ do not see the point of radically updating, since the hulls are old and, moreover, upgrading the electronics to the IΙI series is much more difficult than the IΙA series, although they undergo regular upgrades.

[TermNachTer]

I would say even more. “Arlie Bjerka” should have been written off last year, this year, four more from the first series, but for now they have extended their service life until 2025. What will happen next is unknown. On the one hand, the NK is seriously lacking, on the other hand, without serious hull repairs and modernization of electronic equipment and weapons, further operation is very doubtful.

[solar]

They will be used for auxiliary purposes for now. They are more than 30 years old, and besides, at some point they abandoned frigates and drove destroyers. Now they will keep the old ones until the frigates are built.
Series 2A is noticeably different from series 1 and 2 - 2 helicopters, hangars, larger displacement and other changes. Therefore, there is no point in radically modernizing the old ones; not in 2025, but in the fairly near future they will be written off.

[Boa kaa]

Quote: fa2998

they can afford to have special ships

The fleet followed the path of the US Air Force. There are F-18Es that do electronic warfare and reconnaissance. But this is if there is an AVU nearby. And with the presence of EM RTR/EW, there is no need for electronic support for the CAG. After all, it is not always possible to send an Avik to where there is a real threat of its defeat. And I don’t mind the EM URO class KUG ships. These wolves of the ocean can scour vast areas of water and the value of such gladiators is not comparable to the value and status of AVU. They can also ensure the suppression of enemy electronic zones, creating corridors for the flight of SAC units and deck crews, jamming (and perhaps even “hammering”) enemy electronic zones, anti-ship missile seekers, etc....
A new class of NK - EM RTR/EW... But they didn’t say anything about weapons. It will probably remain the same as on the “combat” Berks.
IMHO.

[solar]

The electronic warfare antenna posts remained in their place, extending beyond the hull, as before, they were simply covered with shields, most likely to reduce the ESR and improve the operating conditions of the electronic warfare stations.