Orly Burke-class URO destroyers. The first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the Flight III series is being built in the United States "Jack Lucas Power plant em uro Arleigh Burke
First Arleigh Burke I-class destroyer entered service Navy Navy USA in 1991. The contract for the construction of the ships was divided between the two companies Litton and Ingalls SB.
Ships of the Arleigh Burke I series are the main and most numerous representatives of the class. EM Destroyer v Navy Naval Forces USA - by the end of the 90s it is planned to have Navy Naval Forces about 50 such ships.
When starting to create an Arleigh Burke I-class destroyer, the Americans proceeded from two fundamental points: the ship must have high survivability and have Aegis IFSO. The composition of weapons was taken the same as on Ticonderoga, only by reducing the total number of container-cells MK41 from 122 to 90. Compared to Spruence, the speed decreased slightly. Among other innovations, it should be noted a gas turbine power plant with a heat recovery circuit, which made it possible to save 25 percent fuel, an improved system of protection against weapons of mass destruction (in particular, all doors along the outer contour are equipped with air tambours), a torpedo deflection device, an artillery control system fire with laser rangefinders.
EM Destroyer type "Arleigh Burke I" are intended, like cruisers URO guided missile weapon type Ticonderoga, for zonal protection against air attack means of NK formations (primarily AUG carrier strike group), landing groups and convoys, combating PL Submarine and NK of the enemy, artillery support for landing operations, tracking the ships of a potential enemy, ensuring a naval blockade of certain areas, as well as participating in search and rescue operations. At the same time, "Arleigh Burke I", compared to Ticonderoga, has smaller dimensions, better stability parameters and combat survivability (due to the increased width of the hull, the absence of AMG in superstructure designs and a more rational division of the hull into watertight compartments).
For "Arleigh Burke I" a new hull was developed with full contours in the bow and a small collapse of the surface branches of the bow frames. According to experts Navy Naval Forces USA, despite some increase in water resistance, this form of hull has the best seaworthiness. These include the smoothness and smallness of the pitching range, the moderation of flooding and splashing, small roll angles on the circulation. The hull of the ship is steel, with a characteristic forecastle extended far into the stern. It is divided by watertight bulkheads reaching the upper deck into 13 compartments and has a double bottom throughout, as well as two continuous decks, not counting the upper one. The collapse of the sides is more than 8 ° over a significant part of the length, the hull is made low-sitting. During the tests, the possibility of maintaining a speed of 30 knots with hurricane winds and waves up to 9 points was demonstrated.
When designing the Arleigh Burke I, special attention was paid to the issues of providing constructive protection and survivability. To this end, the dimensions of the all-steel superstructure were minimized, its outer surfaces received an inclination to the main plane with surfaces lined with radar-absorbing coatings to reduce the EPR. To reduce the thermal field, the chimneys were equipped with special mixing chambers in which the exhaust gases are mixed with cold air; vital combat posts were located in the ship's hull; AP REV was distributed throughout the ship in order to reduce the likelihood of damage. Premises GEM Main power plant, REV and control posts have Kevlar anti-fragmentation protection. To protect mechanisms and equipment below the DWL, local armor made of high-strength aluminum-magnesium alloys up to 25.4 mm thick also serves. Plates made of these alloys protect the main waveguides and cables, as well as the most important combat posts (BIP rooms, ammunition cellars and upper tiers of superstructures). The ship has a system of collective protection against weapons of mass destruction. Also to reduce hydroacoustic visibility EM Destroyer equipped with air supply systems under the "Masker" bottom and to the edges of the PRAIRIE propeller blades.
The main means of illuminating the air and surface situation is a multifunctional radar Radar station AN / SPY-1D with four HEADLIGHTS. To provide a circular view, they are mounted on the outer surfaces of the superstructure bow block. radar Radar station capable of detecting and tracking air targets at distances up to 400 km. Data on the elements of the movement of air targets are transmitted to BIUS and a system for displaying information, as well as a system for making recommendations to the commander of the ship for making decisions. From BIUS Combat information and control system information about air targets is transmitted to the control system by firing SAM Anti-aircraft missile systems and ZAK Anti-aircraft artillery complex Mk 99, which has three radar Radar station AN/SPG-62 designed for control SAM anti-aircraft guided missile and illumination of shelled CCs. System SAM anti-aircraft guided missile Mk 99 can control 18 at the same time SAM anti-aircraft guided missile. Systems for displaying information and making recommendations to the commander can also receive information from radar Radar station AN / SPS-67 on the air and surface situation, from GAK Hydroacoustic complex SQQ-89 (V) 4 about the underwater situation and from the AN / SLQ-32 complexes about the radio technical situation. In addition, these systems can receive information from other SC and LA. Based on the information received, decisions are made on the use of a particular weapon.
A feature of "Arleigh Burke I", unlike other American EM Destroyer and KR cruise missile URO guided missile weapon is the lack of a helicopter hangar. Available only WFP Airstrip with RAST forced landing system.
EM Destroyer type "Arleigh Burke I" took part in all conflicts of the late twentieth - early twenty-first century. The presence on the ships of the VPU made it possible not only to provide tasks air defense Air Defense and PRO Anti-missile defense AUG carrier strike group, but also to participate in strikes on the coast.
Summarizing the above, we can conclude that Arleigh Burke I-class destroyers are really successful ships high class capable of equally successfully operating in a variety of conditions when performing various tasks. American shipbuilders managed to achieve a rare harmony in the seaworthiness of the ship, its architecture and armament. EM Destroyer type "Arleigh Burke I" can be called one of the best ships of the late twentieth century.
A worthy continuation of the Arleigh Burke I series was the Arleigh Burke II series and the Arleigh Burke IIA series.
DDG-51 Arleigh Burke 1991DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-52 Barry 1992DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-53 John Paul Jones 1993DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-54 Curtis Wilbur 1994DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-55 1994DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-56 John S. McCain 1994DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-57 Mitscher 1994DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-58 1995DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-59 Russell 1995DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-60 Paul Hamilton 1995DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-61 Ramage 1995DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-62 Fitzgerald 1995DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-63 Stethem 1995DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-64 Carney 1996DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-65 Benfold 1996DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-66 Gonzalez 1996DDG Guided Missile Destroyer (destroyer URO)-67 Cole 199610/12/2000 in Yemen, in the port of Aden, there was an explosion on board the ship. At first it was reported that the cruiser was attacked by a boat loaded with explosives.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (Russian. "Arly Burke) - a type of URO destroyers (with controlled missile weapons) fourth generation. Destroyers have been built by order of the US Navy since 1988, and the construction of ships of this type continues. The name of the type was given by the lead ship, the destroyer URO "Arleigh Burke", named after the American admiral of the Second World War. The first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was commissioned into the US Atlantic Fleet on July 4, 1991. After decommissioning on September 21, 2005 of the last destroyer of the Spruance USS Cushing in the US Navy was the only type of URO destroyers - destroyers "Arleigh Burke".
As of May 2010, the Arleigh Burke destroyer is the largest-scale type of surface warship with a total displacement of more than 5,000 tons throughout the entire post-war history of the fleet. Given the rather low pace of construction of destroyers in other states, in the coming years, not a single state in the world will be able to beat this kind of record.
In addition to the US Navy, four ships of the Arleigh Burke type, albeit with a slightly modified design and built according to civilian standards (destroyers of the Congo type), are in service with the Japanese Naval Self-Defense Forces. For 2000, it was planned to introduce three more ships into the Japanese Navy by 2010, upgraded to the level of the IIA series, but at present, the construction of these ships has been abandoned in favor of more advanced Atago class destroyers .
The purpose of the ships of this type
The main combat missions assigned to destroyers of the Arleigh Burke URO type include:
- Protection of own aircraft carrier and ship strike groups from massive enemy missile attacks, which uses anti-ship missiles launched both from surface ships and from nuclear submarines with missile systems.
- Air defense of own forces (naval formations, convoys or individual ships) from enemy aircraft.
- Fight against submarines and surface ships of the enemy;
- Ensuring a naval blockade of certain areas;
- Artillery support landing operations;
- Tracking enemy ships;
- Participation in search and rescue operations.
The history of the development of the construction of ships of the series
Development history
Development of a new type of URO destroyers capable of supplementing 31 destroyers Spruance type and replace the destroyers of previous types, began in the late 1970s and, as a result, led to the creation of the appearance of ships of this type and the emergence of a program for their construction. Fundamentally new type URO destroyers was supposed to be a means to achieve the superiority of the US Navy over the Navy of the Soviet Union. Initially, the development of a new destroyer project was proposed in 1980 to the designers of seven shipbuilding enterprises. Their number was already reduced to three companies in 1983: Todd Shipyards, Bath Iron Works, and Ingalls Shipbuilding.
As a result, on April 5, 1985, the Bath Iron Works shipyard won a contract to build the first ship of the Ι series. The contract was signed for $321.9 million, and the total cost of the first-born destroyer, together with weapons, was $1.1 billion (in 1983 prices). The Bath Iron Works shipyard also received a contract to build the 3rd and 4th destroyers in the series, and later sought more and more contracts. The second destroyer of the first series was ordered by a second company, Ingalls Shipbuilding (Todd Shipyards was unable to secure a contract).
Serial construction
After the order for the construction of the first three destroyers (DDG-51 - 53), on December 13, 1988, an order for the construction of five more destroyers of the series followed. This order was followed on February 22, 1990 by a new one for the construction of an additional five destroyers, then the shipyards received an order (dated January 16, 1991) for four more destroyers. The last order for five destroyers of the first series of the ship was received by the Bath Iron Works and Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyards on April 8, 1992, and the last of the five destroyers ordered in 1992, Mahan, was already being completed as a ship of the Flight II series.
Orders for ships of the II series were distributed as follows: January 19 - January 21, 1993 - four destroyers (DDG-73 - DDG-76), July 20, 1994 - three (DDG-77 - DDG-79), and the last of these three destroyers, "Oscar Austin", built according to the Flight IIA project.
Orders for the construction of ships of the IIA series were carried out on the following dates: January 6, 1995 - three units. (DDG-80 - DDG-82), June 20, 1996 - two units. (DDG-83 - DDG-84), December 13, 1996 - four units. (DDG-85 - DDG-88), March 6, 1998 - thirteen units. (DDG-89 - DDG-101), September 13, 2002 - eleven units. (DDG-102 - DDG-112), June 15, 2011 - one unit. (DDG-113), September 27, 2011 - two units. (DDG-114 - DDG-115), option declared for DDG-116.
At the beginning of June 2011, it is planned to build 75 destroyers of this type, of which 61 ships have already been built and 2-3 new ships are put into operation annually. The last, 61st destroyer of the series, Spruance, was commissioned into the US Navy on October 1, 2011. After the refusal in July 2008 of the large-scale construction of destroyers of the DDG-1000 type, plans appeared to build another 8-11 ships of the Arleigh Burke type in addition to the already ordered 62 and increase the total number of built destroyers of the series to 70-73 units. The construction of new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers following USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) allows US shipyards to continue destroyer production before the start of series production new types of cruisers CG(X) and CGN(X) at these enterprises, which is expected no earlier than 2015 (except for the small-scale construction of the DDG-1000 destroyers). In December 2009, the US Navy awarded a $117 million contract to purchase materials for the DDG-113 destroyer, and in April 2010 a $114 million contract to purchase materials for the DDG-114 destroyer.
In June 2011, it became known that the leadership of the US Navy decided to increase the order for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and continue their construction until at least 2031. As part of the 2012 and 2013 programs, it is planned to develop a new improved modification of the destroyer - Series III, according to which, starting from 2016 (from the DDG-122 ship), 24 new ships of this type should be laid down. It is planned that ships from DDG-113 to DDG-121 will gradually "saturate" with Series III technologies.
Construction cost
The cost of building the lead destroyer in 1983 prices was $ 1.1 billion. In 2004, the average cost of building one ship of the IIA series was $ 1.1 - 1.25 billion, and the annual cost of servicing one ship (with one repair every two years ) = $ 20 million. By 2009, due to inflation, the cost of one destroyer of the third sub-series (Flight IIa) increased to $ 1.4 billion (equivalent to 26.32 billion rubles in purchasing power parity), and the annual maintenance cost to $ 25 million
The bulk of the funds from the total cost of building and arming destroyers of the Arleigh Burke type goes directly to the acquisition and installation of weapons systems on destroyers. Thus, 6 destroyer hulls ordered by Bath Iron Works for laying down in 2002-2005 cost $3,170,973,112, the cost of 4 hulls ordered by Ingalls Shipbuilding in the same period = $1,968,269,674, from which you can easily subtract the average price hull of one destroyer, equal to ≈ $ 500 million, that is, slightly more than a third of the total cost of the ship. Thus, almost two-thirds of the cost of commissioning a ship is its armament. The most expensive element of the armament of the destroyers "Arleigh Burke" is the combat system Aegis - its cost is approximately $300 million.
The next Arleigh Burke-class destroyer after USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) (construction is expected to begin in 2009) will cost the US Navy $ 2.2 billion. It is assumed that the average cost of the remaining destroyers of the future series, the construction of which while only planned, will not exceed $ 1.7 billion.
The increase in costs is due, in addition to inflation, to the installation of new weapons systems on ships under construction.
ship design
Hull and superstructure
Series I
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are typical single-hull ships with a hull aspect ratio (along the waterline) = 7.1 of a long-tank design. For the first time in many years, the hulls of the ships of the series in American shipbuilding practice began to be made almost entirely of high-strength steel, using only individual units and sections of aluminum, in particular, pipes of gas turbine plants and the main mast. Experience pushed American designers to return to the use of steel in the construction of ships Falklands War , which revealed the weak security of British ships with aluminum hulls, as well as a number of fires on their own ships (in particular, the fire on the Belknap missile cruiser that occurred on November 22, 1975 during a collision between the cruiser and the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy completely destroyed the superstructure of the cruiser and claimed the lives of 7 people).
Developed for the destroyers of this project, the new hull has full contours in the bow and a small collapse of the surface branches of the bow frames, which differs markedly from its predecessor - Spruence-class destroyer project . According to the developers of the Arleigh Burke destroyer project, despite some increase in water resistance, this hull form has the best seaworthiness. The positive qualities of the Arleigh Burke destroyers are the greater smoothness and smallness of the pitching range, the moderation of flooding and splashing, and the small angles of the ship's heel in circulation. The destroyer's hull is low-sitting.
The hulls of the ships are divided, taking into account rationality, by watertight bulkheads reaching the upper deck into 13 compartments and have a double bottom throughout their length. Two continuous decks run through the entire ship, not counting the top. In the lower decks there is a through passage that allows the crew to take up combat posts without going to the upper deck for this. The collapse of the sides is more than 8 ° over a significant length of the hull length. The height of tween decks for the US Navy is standard - 2.9 m.
The ships are built according to the modular principle, that is, the ship's hull during construction is formed from pre-assembled modules (blocks). This facilitates and speeds up the construction process. The complete process of building a ship (from laying to launching) takes from 10 to 17 months, with most ships built in less than 15 months. A certain delay in construction schedules was observed after Hurricane Katrina , which slowed down the delivery of several destroyers by the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Pascagoula.
Arleigh Burke-class URO destroyers became the first after frigates type "Lafayette" ships, the construction of which uses technology "Stealth" . The destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class are the first ships in the US Navy, which, as a result of the creation of the architecture of superstructures made using Stealth technology (with sharp ribs, for greater scattering of radio waves) and the use of coatings that absorb radio emission energy, have significantly reduced the effective scattering area. In order to reduce the thermal field, the chimneys of destroyers are equipped with special mixing chambers in which exhaust gases are mixed with cold air. The reduction of the thermal field of the ships was achieved by isolating hot sections through the use of an air cooling system for exhaust gases.
Series II
The metacentric height of the ships of the 2nd series has been increased by reducing the weight of the superstructure. On three-quarters of the hull length of the 2nd series destroyers, the thickness of the metal plating was increased, fuel efficiency was improved due to changes in the design of the bow of the vessel. The propeller design has also been improved to reduce cavitation noise. In addition, the living quarters of the destroyers of the series were expanded to accommodate the personnel of the air group, as well as women soldiers. In order to increase combat survivability, five armored bulkheads were additionally installed in the ship's hull.
Series IΙA
Compared to the destroyers "Arleigh Burke" of the first series, the hull is lengthened by 1.37 m - up to 155.29 m. The width of the hull remains the same. For the construction of destroyers of the IΙA series, a previously unused technology is used, in which sections are saturated before they are integrated into the main hull modules. Beginning with USS Shoup (DDG-86), helicopter hangars are made from composite materials to reduce secondary radar field levels. All destroyers of the IIA series are equipped with satellite communications, allowing members of the ship's crew to call home at any time or use the Internet. All destroyers, starting with USS McCampbell (DDG-85), have a dedicated laundromat. In addition, a number of other, smaller changes have been made to the design and equipment of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers of the IIA series.
Power plant
A new phenomenon for American shipbuilding was the twin-shaft main power plant installed on the Arleigh Burke destroyers, consisting of 4 gas turbine engines. General Electric LM2500 with a heat recovery circuit, giving an additional 25 percent fuel economy. The main power plant of the ship is mounted on soundproof foundations and shock-absorbing supports. GEM (gas turbine, compressor, pipelines) and soundproof casing are made in the form of a single unit (module). The propulsion system of the ship allows it to develop a full speed of at least 30 knots in any sea state. The lead destroyer of series I USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) on sea trials with a full displacement of the hull developed a 30-knot speed in a 35-foot (10.67 m) wave and a total shaft power of 75,000 liters. With. On ships of all series there are 3 standby Allison 2500 gas turbine engines (each with a capacity of 2.5 MW), on which the ships are able to move when the power plant fails. The movement of the Arleigh Burke destroyers is provided by 2 five-bladed KaMeWa variable-pitch propellers.
The maximum cruising range of destroyers of the Arleigh Burke type of the I series at the operational and economic speed (20 knots) reaches 4400 nautical miles (8148.8 km), on ships of the II and IIA series due to an increase in the fuel efficiency of the ship, achieved through the improvement of the design of the bow parts of the hull and the placement of additional fuel tanks, the cruising range of the ship was increased to 4890 miles (9056 km). The cruising range of destroyers at economic speed (18 knots), according to some sources, reaches 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km). The cruising range of the destroyers "Arleigh Burke" is estimated as relatively small, especially since for the previous type of destroyers of the US Navy - Spruence-class destroyers she was 6000 miles at 20 knots and 3300 miles at 30 knots.
Crew
The crew of ships of the I and II series consists of 22-26 officers and approximately 300-330 sailors in the rank of warrant officer and below. On the ships of the IIΑ series, the crew was increased to 380 people (the total number of officers increased to 32) due to the appearance of a special group on the ships Maintenance 2 helicopters, consisting of 18 people, including 4 officers. The conditions for the accommodation of the crew on the destroyers "Arleigh Burke" are quite comfortable, the officers are accommodated in separate cabins, the sailors - in the cockpit. There are 4 m² of living quarters per 1 member of the ship's crew.
combat survivability
When designing destroyers of the Arleigh Burke type, the designers and developers of the project paid special attention to the issues of adequate provision of structural protection and survivability of destroyers of this type. To do this, the dimensions of the all-steel superstructure were minimized, the outer surfaces of the superstructure received an inclination to the main plane with surfaces lined with reducing EPR radio absorbing coatings.
Vital combat posts are located below the main deck; REV antenna posts were distributed throughout the ship in order to reduce the likelihood of damage. Control posts for anti-submarine sensors and missile fire control "Tomahawk" placed separately from the BIC. The premises of the power plant, REV and control posts have Kevlar anti-shatter protection. In total, more than 130 tons of Kevlar are spent during construction to protect the main combat posts and units of each destroyer of the Arleigh Burke type (including 70 tons of this durable, but expensive material, goes to protect combat posts).
The purpose of protecting mechanisms and equipment below the design waterline is also served by local anti-fragmentation armor made of high-strength aluminum-magnesium alloys up to 25.4 mm thick. Plates made of these alloys protect the main waveguides, cables and the most important combat posts (upper tiers of superstructures, BIP rooms, ammunition cellars). The hull and superstructure of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including the AN / SPY-1 radar antennas), are designed for an overpressure during an explosion of 0.5 kg / cm², which is more than 2 times higher than previously accepted in military shipbuilding US standard value is 0.21 kg/cm². To reduce hydroacoustic visibility, destroyers of the Arleigh Burke type are equipped with systems whose functions include air supply to the underwater part of the ship (Masker system) and to the edges of propeller blades (PRAIRIE system). As a result of work latest system a cloud of air bubbles is formed, distorting and smoothing the acoustic signal of the ship. A ship using the PRAIRIE system can be identified by a paler and more foamy wake than usual. When using the Masker system, the trail does not start under the stern, but at about half the length of the hull.
The ships of the project received an improved system of protection against weapons of mass destruction. There are no portholes in the hull and superstructures, the ship's ventilation system is equipped with automatic shutters and special filters. All doors along the outer contour of the ship are equipped with air tambours for air insulation purposes. Overpressure is artificially created in the inboard spaces to prevent contaminated air from entering them. Destroyers of the Arleigh Burke type also have a water protection system and decontamination posts.
Many experts consider Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to be among the most protected destroyers. modern fleets peace. However, the experience of combat operation of ships makes one take a more balanced attitude to such statements and makes it possible to identify a number of significant shortcomings in the ships of this project. So on October 12, 2000, an explosion with a capacity of only 200-230 kg of TNT on the Cole destroyer, breaking through the two-level armor protection of the central part of the hull (near the midships), completely disabled the ship's gas turbine engines, depriving it of its progress and control. During the explosion, the cockpits were flooded, and one sixth of the crew (56 people) was disabled (including 17 killed). Nevertheless, despite the damage received, the ship remained afloat, while the roll that arose after the explosion did not exceed 4 °.
The incident with the destroyer "Cole" once again showed that, despite the lessons of the Falklands and Iran-Iraq wars, not only destroyers of the "Arleigh Burke" type, but absolutely all modern destroyers of the URO have weak constructive protection (or do not have it at all) . The protection of individual elements of the hull, engines and weapons with the help of Kevlar, as the Cole experience has shown, provides only anti-fragmentation or, at best, anti-projectile protection against the action of light and medium-caliber artillery shells. From the destructive action of powerful explosive devices and anti-ship missiles, the constructive protection of all modern types destroyers cannot be protected.
To a large extent, the weak constructive protection of destroyers of the Arleigh Burke type is compensated by powerful anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection provided by the capabilities of the Aegis multifunctional CICS, as well as the introduction of means to reduce thermal and acoustic signature on destroyers. The defeat of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers by a single anti-ship missile or torpedo is almost unbelievable, given the combat capabilities of the system Aegis generally.
In order to increase the combat survivability of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, it is planned to equip them, starting with USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), with mine protection systems. In many respects, the decision to install mine protection systems on ships of this series was due to the incident with the destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98), when on August 8, 2007, during the latter’s visit to Sevastopol, a German 480-kilogram galvanic impact anchor ship mine of the times of the Great Patriotic War with the power of an explosive device equal to 50 kg in TNT equivalent. The mine was safely defused by the joint actions of the divers. Black Sea Fleet Russia and the Ukrainian Navy. As a result of mine clearance operations, the American destroyer was not injured.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are equipped with two 24-foot (7.32 m) semi-rigid inflatable search and rescue boats RHIB or RIB (abbreviated from the English rigid hull inflatable boat), stored on sloops on the starboard side. A commercial crane is used to launch and retrieve RHIB boats. The equipment of the destroyers "Arly Burke" also includes 15 life rafts, each of which is designed for 25 people.
Armament
Aegis system
Aegis (eng. Aegis combat system) is a multifunctional combat information and control system (CICS), which is an organizational and technical association of shipborne means of lighting the situation, destruction and control based on the widespread introduction of automated combat control systems (ASBU). In addition, the system is capable of receiving and processing information from sensors of other ships / aircraft of the formation and issuing target designations to their launchers. Thus, the system can support the air defense commander of the formation, although it cannot fully automate all air defense functions. In a typical case, however, this role is played not by destroyers, but by URO cruisers.
The main components (subsystems) of the Aegis multifunctional weapon system:
- helicopter subsystem LAMPS;
- equipment of the helicopter subsystem LAMPS Mark Z;
- Radar for detecting air and surface targets;
- friend-foe identification station;
- electronic warfare subsystem AN / SLQ-32;
- navigation equipment;
- BIUS PLO with internal GAS ;
- terminal equipment of a digital radio link (LINK-11);
- automated command and control subsystem (Mark 1);
- automated subsystem for the coordinated control of shipborne weapon systems (Mark 1);
- radar control unit with HEADLIGHTS;
- antenna and transceiver part of the multifunctional radar;
- automated subsystem for testing for operation, search and localization of faults;
- information display subsystem;
- radio communication equipment;
- terminal devices of a digital radio communication line;
- launcher subsystems for setting passive interference;
- automated artillery fire control subsystem;
- SAM "Aegis";
- launchers for ship-based CR, SAM and PLUR;
- automated fire control subsystem KR "Tomahawk" ;
- automated fire control subsystem RCC "Harpoon" ;
- anti-aircraft artillery complex "Volcano Phalanx" ;
- automated subsystem for controlling the firing of anti-submarine weapons.
The main components (subsystems) of the Aegis multifunctional weapon system are closely interconnected. The means of management and control of the system are common, that is, they are used in the interests of each element and the entire system as a whole. These tools include OMWC and the display subsystem.
The Aegis system also includes a display subsystem, which can include up to 22 multifunctional consoles (MFPs) with tactical situation displays, including four commander's ones (the latter display a generalized situation). The display equipment is located in the combat information center (CIC) of the ship. Functionally, display equipment is subdivided into the following circuits: processing tactical information, evaluating this information and making a decision, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and strikes along the coast.
Nomenclature of weapons of the destroyers "Arleigh Burke"
The armament of the Arleigh Burke destroyers of different sub-series is quite different. The main weapons of all 53 active ships of this type are 2 vertical launch units (VLR) Mark 41 VLS. The standard set of weapons of the UVP destroyers of the first two sub-series consists of 74 anti-aircraft missiles RIM-66SM-2 , 8 cruise missiles BGM-109 Tomahawk (and 8 RUM-139 VL-Asroc anti-submarine missiles in a multi-purpose version or from 56 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 34 RIM-66 SM-2 and RUM-139 VL-Asroc missiles in a strike version.
On destroyers of the IIA series, the total number of missiles carried by the ship increased from 90 to 96. RIM-7 Sea Sparrow (four per cell), 8 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 8 RUM-139 VL-Asroc anti-submarine guided missiles.
Artillery
Main artillery weapons ships of the Arleigh Burke type is a lightweight 127 mm gun mount Mark 45 . In mod. 2, it is installed on the first 30 destroyers of the type (DDG-51-DDG-80), in the mod. 4 - on all other destroyers, starting with USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81). The standard ammunition of the Mark 45 Mod. 2 - 680 unitary shots Mark 68, Mark 80, Mark 91, Mark 116, Mark 127 or Mark 156. Horizontal range - 23 km, maximum rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute. The mass of the gun mount is only 24.6 tons.
Weight and rate of fire of the Mark 45 Mod. 4 remained the same as the previous modifications. The firing range of high-explosive fragmentation shells has been increased from 23 to 37 km, ERGM and BTERM active-rocket munitions with a flight range of up to 116 km have been introduced into the ammunition load. The standard ammunition of the Mark 45 Mod. 4 is increased due to changes in the design of the artillery cellar. There are the following options for completing the ammunition of the artillery mount - 700 high-explosive fragmentation rounds or 400 ERGM active-rocket rounds or (in a mixed version of ammunition) 232 high-explosive fragmentation rounds + 232 ERGM or BTERM rounds. It usually takes 16 hours to fully reload the artillery magazine of the destroyers Arleigh Burke.
Anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons
On the ships of the first two series, two quadruple installations are installed in the stern RCC "Harpoon" . The main anti-submarine weapons of the Arleigh Burke-class ships are LAMPS-III helicopters. Airborne weapons are anti-submarine guided missiles (PLUR) RUM-139 VL-Asroc . They are capable of hitting submarines at a distance of up to 20 km from the PLUR carrier ship.
As auxiliary anti-submarine weapons, the destroyers of all three series have two built-in torpedo tubes Mk. 32. Ammunition - 6 anti-submarine torpedoes Mk. 46 or Mk. 50. The maximum range of torpedoes is 10 km. There is no way to recharge them. On the ships of the IIA series, the Harpoon anti-ship missile systems were abandoned due to the requirement to reduce the cost of the ship. The torpedo tubes on the ships of the IIA series were retained.
air defense
main component air defense destroyers is the Aegis air defense system, the same name with the multifunctional BIUS. The composition of the air defense system may include, depending on the distribution of ammunition, from 34 to 74 anti-aircraft missiles Standard-2ER under RIM-67B missiles (1981, maximum range firing range - 128 km), RIM-67C (1981, maximum firing range - 185 km), RIM-156 (Standard-2ER Block IV, 1999, maximum firing range - 240 km), currently all new destroyers are armed with anti-aircraft guided missiles Standard-3 with a doubled (up to 500 km) launch range and a launch altitude virtually unlimited within the Earth's atmosphere (up to 250 km).
On a mandatory basis, ships of series I and II were equipped with two rapid-fire six-barreled anti-aircraft artillery installations of the caliber 20 mm "Volcano-Phalanx" , designed to finish firing anti-ship missiles at a distance of up to 1.5 km, if they break through a sufficiently powerful air defense system of the ship. One ZAK is located directly in front of the setting and one behind it. On ships of the IIA series, the Vulcan-Phalanx anti-aircraft artillery systems (ZAK) were abandoned due to the requirement to reduce the cost of the destroyers of the project, but they were still installed on the first 6 ships of the IIA series. Instead of ZAK "Vulkan-Phalanx", the armament of destroyers of the IIA series included an anti-aircraft missile system of self-defense RIM-7 Sea Sparrow (24 missiles in 6 containers of the VLS Mark 41 system).
Tactical strike weapons
Each Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is armed with up to 56 cruise missiles BGM-109 Tomahawk Block 3 (with a launch range of up to 1250-1609 km in the tactical (non-nuclear version) and 2500 km in the strategic (nuclear) version. In 2004, the Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile (a modernized version of the Tomahawk, English Tactical Tomahawk Block 4).
Aviation
Due to the lack of a helicopter hangar, only 1 helicopter can be temporarily based on ships of series I-II SH-60 Sea Hawk . The ammo magazine, located next to the helicopter deck, stores weapons for the helicopter (up to 9 Mark-46 torpedoes). There is also an aviation fuel tank. But the maintenance or repair of helicopters is not provided.
Additional armament
As anti-sabotage, as well as auxiliary anti-aircraft weapons, 4 12.7 mm machine gun M2HB . As an option, it is possible to install 25-mm Bushmaster assault rifles. They have a low elevation angle, and are unsuitable for anti-aircraft fire.
Overall evaluation of the project
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are generally recognized as one of the best types of destroyers with guided missile weapons. In relation to the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, there are even such assessments as "one of the best ships of the late 20th century." Ships of the type are capable of successfully operating in a variety of conditions, both in Peaceful time, and during periods of their participation in wars and military operations, while performing a wide variety of tasks: from launching missile strikes on enemy territory to anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-submarine defense of ships and naval formations of the US Navy. During the design of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, American designers managed to achieve a rare harmony of seaworthiness, well-thought-out ship architecture and powerful strike weapons.
Having become a kind of role model, destroyers of the "Arleigh Burke" type from the moment of their appearance determine the development of ships of the "destroyer" class in almost all major navies of the world, with the exception of the fleets of India, China and Russia. At the same time, it should be noted that for American shipbuilding, destroyers of the Arleigh Burke type are already a “passed stage”; to replace them, on an experimental basis, the construction of destroyers of the Zamvolt type has begun, which, in turn, will become a kind of "testing ground" for testing promising ship technologies and new systems ship armament. However, until the mid-2030s (before the start of mass withdrawal from the combat strength of the US Navy destroyers of the II series) Arleigh Burke-class destroyers will form the basis of the American fleet.
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Orpi Burke-class URO destroyers, equipped with a gas turbine power plant, replaced the Kuntz-class URO and the Legi and Belknap-class URO cruisers.
Initially, it was assumed that it would be cheaper than a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, a ship with less combat capabilities. However, it has become a multi-purpose warship with very large combat capabilities based on the presence of modern weapons and other combat systems.
The destroyer URO "Orpy Burke" (DDG 51) became the first large American warship built using stealth technology, which reduced the radar visibility of the ship. Initially, it was planned to use these ships in confrontation with the Soviet Navy, but at present they carry out anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and anti-ship defense of the forward groups of the US Navy, and also strike at ground targets during operations in crisis regions.
The configuration of the hull of these ships significantly improved their seaworthiness and made it possible to maintain a high speed in difficult maritime conditions. The ship's structures, except for the masts, made of aluminum alloys to reduce weight, are made of steel. The combat posts and the premises of the power plant are additionally protected by Kevlar armor. Surprisingly, the destroyers of this type became the first ships in the US Navy capable of fighting in the conditions of the use of weapons of mass destruction due to the complete sealing of the hull and superstructures.
The AN / SPY-1D radar with phased antenna arrays has significantly increased the capabilities of the AEGIS system, especially in the context of the use of electronic warfare by the enemy.
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The AEGIS system is capable of repelling a massive strike by existing and future cruise missiles against ships of the American group. A conventional radar with a rotating antenna "sees" a target when the antenna beam illuminates it once per full rotation around its axis. To accompany this target, another radar is required.
In the radar of the AEGIS system, these processes are combined. The four phased array antennas of the SPY-1D radar radiate energy in all directions at once, providing constant search and tracking at the same time. The SPY-1D radar and the Mk 99 fire control system ensure the destruction of enemy aircraft and cruise missiles at long range with Standard missiles launched from the UVP. For self-defense, ZAK "Phalanx" Block 1 is used.
The US Navy planned to have combat strength by 2004, 57 Orly Burke-class destroyers, but budgetary restrictions imposed by the US Congress pushed this deadline to 2008. One of the design elements of these ships that was criticized was the lack of a helicopter hangar, although the first 28 destroyers have a platform for an SH-60 helicopter.
The helicopter hangar is installed on destroyers of the PA series. They are also equipped with an oversized UVP, a new 127mm gun and an improved REV.
... By his twenty-five years, Vasya had completely sank and lost the meaning of life. Bad heredity and reduction financial assistance from rich parents they played a cruel joke with him: in general, a good guy, according to neighbors and acquaintances, he finally “got out of the loop” and got hooked on the needle. An emaciated skeleton with a swollen face is all that remains of the former athlete, a candidate for master of sports in freestyle wrestling.
The former contender for the title of the winner of regional martial arts competitions has completely lost touch with reality and now attaches importance to things, to put it mildly, strange - he occasionally stretches his flabby muscles, offending kids in the yard, and spends most of his time in a coma, shaking in convulsions of another overdose...
As the reader has already guessed, this is not about a living person, but about a ship - a destroyer with guided missile weapons (em URO) of the type. The destroyer is unusual in many respects, a recognized record holder in terms of a number of combat characteristics and in terms of construction volumes.
62 built ships in 2013 - the number of American "Burks" exceeds the number of destroyers under the flags of all other countries of the world combined! At the same time, the construction of the Berks continues: two more ships of the new IIA + series were laid down in 2011. In total, according to the plans, the IIA + series will include 9 units. And then even more advanced Berks of the III series (Flight III) will pour in a steel avalanche - twenty units after 2020.
Launching USS John McCain (DDG-56), 1992
This is without taking into account the foreign "replicas" of the American destroyer - the Japanese "Atago" and "Congo", the Spanish "Alvaro de Basan", the South Korean "King Sejong" ... The situation is simply taking a frightening turn. The Aegis are spreading across the world like poisonous insects.
The massive appearance of Berks is the result of maximum standardization and unification of the US Navy: in the short term, only one type of universal destroyer should remain in the fleet, which will replace all existing (or existing) types of missile cruisers, destroyers and frigates.
How fair is such a decision? Will the Aegis destroyer be able to effectively solve the tasks of ships of other classes?
The answer is obvious - the destroyer "Berk" will brilliantly cope with the tasks of any frigate, but the economy of any country will "bend" from such "standardization" - a destroyer with a displacement of 10 thousand tons instead of a 4-5 thousand-ton frigate! The Yankees build their boats on unpaid credit, so they don't think too much about the exorbitant costs of the fleet. Despite the fact that the cost of the latest "Berkov" is estimated in the range of 1.8 ... 2 billion dollars.
Will the admirals ask for 20 more destroyers? Sure, not a problem…
Scenarios for the development of the US Navy until 2042. The first, optimistic, assumes a 40-year life cycle for destroyers. The second, pessimistic, with limited funding, assumes a 35-year cycle. The plans are to keep the number of destroyers at around 90 units.
The Ticonderoga-class cruisers (CG-47) will be unequivocally decommissioned by 2028. The Berks I and II series (DDG-51) are gradually being replaced by DDG-51 series III Zamvolts (DDG-1000) - a narrow band, a series of three experimental destroyers DDG(X) - a new generation destroyer. So far, no one even knows what it will look like.
Why the domestic BOD is not inferior to Berk
90 missile launchers. The Aegis combat information and control system, which combines all means of detection and communication, an armament complex and ship damage control systems. Reliable and efficient power plant. A hull built with stealth technology in mind. A multifunctional robot ship capable of destroying targets on land, under water and in the air.
However, the first impression is deceptive. Admiration when meeting with "Arleigh Burke" is quickly replaced by suspicion about the discrepancy between its declared combat capabilities and the real state of affairs.
After all, created as a “castrated” version of the Ticonderoga missile cruiser, the Burke destroyer did not initially shine with high performance and was a “step back” in terms of creating surface warships. The only thing that attracted the admirals in this project was the declared cheapness and efficiency: according to the initial calculations, the destroyer was supposed to retain 2/3 of the cruiser's capabilities at 1/2 of its cost. But even these figures were overly optimistic.
Launched to the sound of fanfare, the lead USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) turned out to be far from the idea of \u200b\u200ba "ideal" destroyer.
Truth is known in comparison. To understand the main problems faced by American sailors, I propose to take for comparison its Soviet / Russian peers - large anti-submarine ships of projects 1155 and 1155.1.
Even for its intended purpose - as an air defense ship - the design of the Burke raised a lot of questions. First and most important, why does a super destroyer have only three target illumination radars? Of these, only one falls on the front hemisphere. Clear evidence that the destroyer, contrary to the declared qualities, is not capable of repelling massive attacks from the air.
For comparison, the Soviet BOD, which was never positioned as an air defense ship, was equipped with two antenna posts for guidance of ZR95 missiles. Each radar with HEADLIGHTS provided SIMULTANEOUS guidance of up to 8 missiles at 4 air targets in a 60 x 60 degree sector.
A small number of illumination radars and a limited number of targets being fired are far from all the problems of the American destroyer. The leadership of the US Navy ignored the claims of sailors to the multifunctional radar AN / SPY-1 (of course! After billions were invested in the program to create a super-radar, there is no turning back).
The main component of the Aegis system is a powerful three-dimensional radar with four fixed phased array antennas, capable of detecting and automatically tracking hundreds of air targets, programming autopilots of fired anti-aircraft missiles and tracking targets in low earth orbit.
In practice, she showed the opposite. Despite its ultra-modern appearance and extensive control capabilities airspace over long distances, AN / SPY-1 radar turned out to be “blind-sighted” when detecting low-flying targets (NLTs)- and rightly so!
Usually, specialized radars are used on warships to detect high-speed NLCs - for example, the domestic Podkat radar with a narrow search beam and a high data update rate or a dual-band Japanese radar with an active phased array FCS-3A operating in the C frequency bands (wavelength 7.5 up to 3.75 cm) and X (wavelength from 3.75 to 2.5 cm).
The Americans probably thought they were the smartest, so they tried to solve the NLC detection problem with the multifunctional AN / SPY-1 - one radar for all occasions! At the cost of great effort, the programming team managed to “mute” the interference and teach the AN / SPY-1 to scan with a narrow beam in a small elevation angle. But how effective was the work of AN / SPY-1 in this mode?
There is still no information in the open press about the defeat of supersonic air targets by Aegis at extremely low altitude - probably the American Burks have not learned how to deal with such threats. The released "Moskit" or the Russian-Indian "Brahmos" with a high probability will break through the destroyer's air defense / missile defense system and hit the target.
In addition, the AN / SPY-1's ability to detect NLC is limited due to the unsuccessful location of the antenna devices: unlike other ships, where they try to place antenna posts on the tops of the masts, the AN / SPY-1 phased antenna arrays hang on the walls of the superstructure, like paintings in the Tretyakov Gallery.
This gives the ship a stylish, modern look, but reduces the detection range of the NLC (radio horizon problem). Finally, as follows from the specifics of the operation of the radar itself, four fixed headlamps are not the most the best solution when repulsing massive attacks from one direction. One of the grids becomes overloaded with information, while the other three are inactive.
By now, Arleigh Burke with its AN / SPY-1 is completely outdated - modern British Darings, Franco-Italian Horizons or Japanese Akizuki are head and shoulders above the American destroyer in terms of air defense capabilities, especially in matters of intercepting high-speed NLCs.
On the destroyers of other fleets, radars with active phased arrays (SAMPSON, S1850, FCS-3A) have long been used. Anti-aircraft missiles with active homing heads (European PAAMS air defense systems with Aster family missiles) are flying with might and main. But Americans don't have anything like that! Burke still uses outdated technology with the AN / SPY-1 blind radar and the Standerd-2 family of SAMs and semi-actively guided RIM-162 ESSM. Moreover, as mentioned above, the destroyer has only three AN / SPG-62 illumination radars, capable of simultaneously directing only one missile at a time.
The presence of super-munitions SM-3, capable of hitting targets at atmospheric altitudes, does nothing for the destroyer in a real battle - the three-stage interceptor SM-3 is useless against aircraft and low-flying anti-ship missiles.
That's it. The superhero turned out to be in fact a "fraer" with very mediocre characteristics.
If the capabilities of the destroyer "Burke" in repelling air attacks can be defined as "average", then its anti-submarine and anti-ship capabilities are rated as "below average", or even "none" at all.
For example, the first 28 destroyers (Flight I and II) did not have a helicopter hangar at all - only a landing pad at the stern. At a time when domestic BODs carried two anti-submarine helicopters on board!
A further comparison of the anti-submarine (PLO) capabilities of the first Berks with the BOD pr. 1155 (code "Udaloy") is like a "one-sided game".
Our BODs were equipped with the grandiose Polynom hydroacoustic station weighing 800 tons. The detection range of submarines, torpedoes and sea mines under favorable hydrological conditions could reach 40-50 km. Even the most modern modifications of the American AN / SQS-53 sonar can hardly boast of such characteristics.
On board the BOD there were eight anti-submarine missile torpedoes with a launch range of up to 50 km ("Rastrub-B" / "Vodopad-NK"), not counting auxiliary equipment in the form of RBU. For comparison: the modernized American RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC missile-torpedoes are capable of hitting targets at a distance of no more than 22 km. From the point of view of real conditions, 22 and 50 km no longer matter much, due to the difficulty of detecting submarines at such distances. However, the numbers speak against Burke...
The anti-submarine capabilities of the Aegis destroyers have increased markedly, only starting from the IIA series (the lead destroyer, the Oscar Austin, was commissioned into the Navy in 2000). The ships of this series had the entire aft part completely reconfigured, where two hangars appeared to accommodate Sea Hawk helicopters of the LAMPS III PLO system.
As one of the readers of the Military Review cleverly put it, modern ships are not designed for naval combat. They are designed for comfortable service of contract soldiers in peacetime.
This statement fully applies to Arleigh Burke-class destroyers - Wi-Fi, pools and restaurant meals, 4.4 sq. meters of living space for each sailor ... The only thing that the ship's designers forgot about is that the destroyer must be able to conduct a sea battle. And the modern "Burke" is categorically not capable of this.
BOD "Admiral Chabanenko" (pr. 1155.1), adopted by the Navy in 1999.
The new Vodopad-NK PLUR complex, launched through conventional TA, made it possible to place eight Moskit supersonic anti-ship missiles on board. The bow battery of 100 mm guns was replaced by a twin automatic 130 mm AK-130 mount. Rapid-fire AK-630s have been replaced by 2 ZRAK "Kortik"
In addition to the general "fragility" of the design, which is characteristic of all modern ships (the destroyer "Cole" failed after a boat was blown up with 200-300 kg of explosives next to its side, 17 dead sailors, 34 wounded. A complete loss of progress and combat capability - it is easy to imagine that will happen in the event of a direct hit on the US Navy destroyer by the most modest anti-ship missiles) - in addition to low survivability and resistance to combat damage, the modern Burke is completely devoid of anti-ship weapons!
The presence of a universal "five-inch" and the theoretical possibility of firing missiles at surface ships can be neglected.
How so?
Very simple. The destroyers of the first series were equipped with two formidable naval combat systems:
- specialized subsonic anti-ship missiles "Harpoon" (firing range 130 km, speed 0.85 M, warhead weight 225 kg) in two Mk141 quad launchers at the stern of the destroyer;
- BGM-109B TASM anti-ship missiles, which are a modification of the well-known Tomahawk SLCM. The TERCOM reliefometric guidance system has been replaced with an active radar seeker, similar to the Harpoon missiles.
Despite ridicule about subsonic speed (Mach 0.75), the anti-ship "Tomahawk" was a deadly munition that was hard to detect, flying on the marching site at an altitude of only a few meters above the crests of the waves (unlike the Soviet monsters P-500/700/1000, which soared up a couple of tens of kilometers). The low speed and obsolescence of the CC data was compensated by special flight modes in the final section of the trajectory (snake search). Finally, a flight range of five thousand kilometers and warhead weighing 450 kg - 2-3 times more than conventional small-sized anti-ship missiles (exotic bulky "Granites" and "Volcanoes" do not count).
In the 1990s, a number of BGM-109B Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missles were commonly found in vertical launch bays aboard US Navy destroyers and cruisers.
The standard layout of the stern of the "Arleigh Burke" series I.Two AN / SPG-62 illumination radars to cover the aft corners (behind the chimneys), the Phalanx carriage (the complex itself was dismantled for technical reasons), Mk.141 inclined launchers for the Harpoon anti-ship missiles and, finally, UVP cells with "Tomahawks"
Alas, by now, Burke has completely degraded. Due to the disappearance of the only worthy enemy - the Soviet Navy, the anti-ship "Tomahawk" has become an unnecessary ballast. The BGM-109B was completely withdrawn from service in the early 2000s.
On destroyers of the IIA series, the installation of anti-ship missiles was generally considered an unnecessary and useless undertaking. As a result, Burke lost its last weapon - the Harpoon anti-ship missile. Of course, the sailors did not think of abandoning the missiles - everything was decided for them by the command of the fleet, which sought to reduce the already exorbitant costs.
As a result, a shameful situation has arisen: any Iranian corvette or RTOs can “heat up” the defenseless Burke with a pair of anti-ship missiles, and the American destroyer will even have nothing to snap at.
Realizing their helplessness, the sailors made a fuss. The result of the debate was the LRASM (Long Range Anti Ship Missle) project - the development of a long-range subsonic stealth anti-ship missile based on the AGM-158 JASSM aviation cruise missile launched from Mk41 UVP cells.
Instead of a high-speed "race to the bottom", LRASM relies on an "intelligent" breakthrough of the enemy's air defense / missile defense system - high autonomy, low visibility, complex evasive maneuvers, and jamming. The new missile is expected to enter service with the US Navy in the second half of this decade.
In the meantime, Americans helplessly clench their fists at the sight of Iranian missile corvettes.
Another moment of Arleigh Burke's degradation - the last destroyers enter service without short-range self-defense systems. The usual one was recognized as an obsolete weapon, in return the destroyer received ... an empty seat. Initially, it was assumed that radar-guided anti-aircraft guns would be replaced by RIM-116 Rolling Airfame Missle (RAM) missile systems - a 21-round launcher on a Phalanx carriage; rocket design - fuselage from the aviation "Sidewinder" + infrared seeker from the "Stinger" MANPADS. The complex is suitable for hitting air targets at a distance of up to 9 km.
However, it was decided to save on self-defense air defense systems. "Burke" lost the last line of defense.
USS Spruance (DDG-111) a series IIA destroyer. At the stern is the outdated Phalanx. Front is empty
At the moment, the strike armament of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers is limited to Tomahawk cruise missiles - many modifications with different guidance algorithms and types of warheads. In this standings, the American destroyers have no equal - "Burke" in the "shock" version is able to take on board 56 "Axes". A powerful missile launcher for conducting local warfare, capable of finishing off the air defense of any "banana republic" with one salvo. The main thing is not to get close to the shore, otherwise you can get a great "rake" from counterfeit Chinese C-802 anti-ship missiles and other "wunderwaffes" that have bred around the world in extraordinary quantities. There is no hope for AN / SPY-1, and instead of the good old Phalanx, the Americans now, sorry, have a bare ass.
Huge plans
I wonder how the Yankees are going to fight on these, even now obsolete "pelvis", for the next 50 years? After all, no matter how puffed up the Pentagon is, the US Navy will not have other destroyers in the near future (three experimental Zamvolts do not make a difference).
Even if we allow the appearance of promising destroyers DD (X) in the 2030s, the Berks will remain the basis of the surface component of the US Navy at least until the middle of the century. And according to a number of forecasts, the last of the Burke destroyers will leave the current composition in the 2070s! No other type of ship in history has remained in service in the "first line" for such a long time.
Changing the length of the gun barrel from 54 to 62 calibers will not get off here. As well as the addition of various high-tech systems (for example, MASKER, which supplies air bubbles to the bottom of the ship to reduce hydroacoustic visibility). Autonomous RMS mine-detecting robots, active rockets, five armored bulkheads in the superstructure ... no! Something fundamentally different is needed!
The Yankees are very hopeful for the Third series (Flight III). Accurate information on these ships is not available. Surely even the developers themselves have not yet decided on the appearance of the modernized "Berk".
But one thing is already clear - the AN / SPY-1 radar will retire. Instead, there will be a radar with an active headlamp AMDR or something similar - extremely energy-intensive, to control the upper atmosphere and LEO. Having suffered a fiasco with the “universal” destroyer, the Yankees are increasingly inclined towards the idea of turning the Berks into floating rocket launchers of the national missile defense system.
There are plans to reconfigure the engine rooms - instead of gas turbines, destroyers will be equipped with full electric propulsion. If necessary, one of the helicopter hangars will be donated to install an additional generator.
A 155-mm long-range AGS gun instead of a nose gun, active defense systems based on laser weapons, new types of rocket ammunition, target designation from F-35 fighter radars ...
Testing and small-scale assembly of SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles are in full swing. Raytheon promises to deliver the first large batch to the Navy in 2015. The Yankees, 10 years late, still hope to adopt active-guided missiles.
The "degradation" of the destroyer "Burke" is nothing more than a vicious joke. The modern American destroyer really does not shine with its performance characteristics, but sooner or later the quantity turns into quality. The Yankees really have a lot of destroyers, and even more plans to modernize them.
Huntigton Ingalls Industries announced last week that it had begun building the hull of the first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Jack Lucas. The first 100 tons of steel were cut at a shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the center of American shipbuilding. This is written by the American edition of Defense News.
“Huntington Ingalls Industries Corporation is a US shipbuilding company formed on March 31, 2011 by separating its shipbuilding division Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding from Northrop Grumman,” the deputy reminded Gazeta.Ru, “the latter arose on January 28, 2008 as a result of the merger of two other divisions Northrop Grumman - Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and Northrop Grumman Newport News."
The destroyer will be named after Marine Jack Lucas, who fought in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II.
For heroism shown during the battle for japanese island Iwo Jima, Lucas was awarded the United States' highest military award, the Medal of Honor.
The appearance of this ship of the US Navy will radically change the radar station (RLS) of the Raytheon AN / SPY-6 corporation, designed to solve the problems of air and missile defense.
“The modernization of the ship’s radar seemed to us extremely necessary measure against the backdrop of success in shipbuilding in China and Russia. And the US Navy aims to be head and shoulders above Moscow and Beijing in this area, ”said Brian McGrath, ex-commander of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer, currently a consultant at the Ferry Bridge Group.
“The Arleigh Burke SPY-1 destroyer radar served us well and for a long time, but the threat landscape has changed and the fleet needs a new radar,” McGrath said, “and the SPY-6 radar is exactly the radar that we need.” .
This will make it possible to detect objects with a smaller effective scattering surface at much greater ranges, which will increase the time for making the necessary decisions on combat use guided weapons."
In an interview with Gazeta.Ru, Konstantin Makienko noted that Jack Lucas is the first of five destroyers contracted in June 2013. “A contract for five ships at once allows the company to build destroyers more efficiently, buying raw materials ahead of time. The destroyers Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Frank E. Petersen Jr. are currently being built at the shipyard. (DDG 121) and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123),” the expert said.
According to him, the main difference between the ships of the Flight III series and the previous versions of the Arleigh Burke class destroyers will be the replacement of the AN / SPY-1 radar complex of the AEGIS multifunctional weapon system with the new AMDR-S (Air and Missile Defense Radar S-band) radar system with active phased array antenna (AFAR), which has enhanced performance in solving missile defense problems. The complex will allow ships to implement, in American terminology, "integrated air defense and missile defense" (Integrated Air and Missile Defense - IAMD).
According to Defense News, the placement of a radically new radar on the ship required a 45% rework of the destroyer's hull. In addition, a promising radar will require a completely different power supply system, much more powerful than the previous version.
But, according to American developers, the AN / SPY-6 radar with an active phased array, created using gallium nitride, will have 30 times greater sensitivity than the previous version of this AN / SPY-1 radar. In addition, all-round visibility will be provided.
And this will dramatically increase the combat capabilities of the Flight III destroyer in the field of air defense and missile defense.
According to some reports, the possibility of simultaneously intercepting 22 or more air targets will be achieved using medium-range anti-aircraft guided missiles of the RIM-162 ESSM type, equipped with semi-active radar heads homing.
In addition, Defense News writes, the capabilities of Jack Lucas in the field of electronic warfare and passive radar, which will allow detecting and tracking airborne objects without going on the air. This is a great advantage of the new destroyer, since raising the high voltage on the transmitters and going on the air gives the ship's location every time.
The number of Mk41-type vertical launchers (VLRs) will be significantly increased on Flight III destroyers. The ship will be equipped with two UVP Mk41 modules (48 cells in the bow and 80 in the stern), which house 88 SM-3 and SM-6 missiles, 32 ESSM missiles (4 missiles in 8 cells), 24 Tomahawk TLAM cruise missiles , 8 missiles PLURO ASROC. In addition, the destroyer will receive one 155-mm artillery mount AGS, two RAM short-range anti-aircraft missile systems, two 25 mm Mk 38 Mod 2 guns, eight 12.7 mm machine guns, four 324 mm Mk 32 triple-tube torpedo tubes and two SH-60B Seahawk helicopters.
A total of 128 Tomahawk TLAM sea-launched missiles can be loaded onto the Jack Lucas. The displacement of the new destroyer will be 9200 tons, and the crew will consist of 341 sailors.
“The destroyer Arleigh Burke is the largest-scale type of surface warship with a total displacement of more than 5,000 tons in the entire post-war history of the fleet,” recalled Konstantin Makienko.
Currently, the US Navy has 62 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, that is, the number of these ships exceeds the number of destroyers flying the flags of all other countries in the world.
The lead ship of the project entered service in 1991. This type of destroyer is expected to serve in the US Navy until at least 2070. In 2018, the US Navy is ready to order 10 Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.