At least the U.S. Navy is taking a giant leap forward in electronic warfare with its latest Block III iteration of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers-though how giant remains to be seen.
Newly released images of the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, or SEWIP, Block III system underpin the Navy’s commitment to advancing its technological edge aboard its fleet.
The Block III design will have a distinctive “muffin top” midsection to provide opportunities for future upgrades. Each vessel, valued at $2 billion, sports the latest radar and fearsome armaments, thereby making it all the more strategic.
Keeping a healthy fleet of Arleigh Burke destroyers fits well within the point the Navy has been making about finding a way to meet force size needs.
Since the introduction of the original USS Arleigh Burke in 1991, the class has undergone much change and is built with lessons learned from past conflicts in mind, the low radar profile, and improved survivability being among them.
Equipped with four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbines, Arleigh Burke destroyers boast speeds of over 30 knots and carry a massive arsenal that includes 56 Tomahawk missiles, anti-ship and land-attack missiles, and the Tercom-aided navigation system launched from Lockheed Martin MK41 vertical launch systems.
In addition to these arrays, ballistic missile defense has been made even stronger in the fleet with the inclusion of Standard Missile SM-3. Tests to date have proven these successful at their design function.
The newest Flight III Arleigh Burke introduces the AN/SPY-6 Air and Missile Defense Radar, supported by three Rolls Royce 3-megawatt generators to boost electronic warfare strength.
It has a unique midsection for future upgrades against emerging threats such as UAVs, anti-ship missiles, and ballistic missiles.
Beyond Block III, modernization continues. The Destroyer Modernization 2.0 program involves upgrading older Arleigh Burkes with more advanced radars and electronic warfare suites.
More ships like USS Pinckney’s variant feature more of the Northrop Grumman AESA technology that supports more powerful, multi-target electronic attacks.
Still, further compact variants of the AN/SPY-6(V)1 will create even more expansive detection as well as precision for these upgrades – an example of this is the Raytheon AN/SPY-6(V)4.
The Navy intends to modernize 20 of the Flight IIA destroyers into the Mod 2.0 configuration while it buys new Flight III.
Within a decade from now, the DDG(X) class with cutting-edge AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and a more efficient propulsion package will significantly enhance its capabilities.
This is exactly what America needs: its naval power is strong and ready for any challenge in the future.