Through the publication of a report on September 12, the Congressional Research Service presented to Congress the current status of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation destroyer program DDG(X), detailing the most relevant challenges it currently faces for its continuity. This is one of the Navy’s most important ongoing programs, considering that the new ship is intended to replace the already outdated Ticonderoga-class and the earliest Arleigh Burke-class vessels, with goals set for the first ship to be ready in the early 2030s and budget requests for fiscal year 2026 amounting to around $133.5 million.
Reviewing in detail what the report outlines, it begins by providing an overview of the fleets the Navy seeks to replace and the reasons behind it, referring to the CG-47 (USS Ticonderoga) and the DDG-51 (USS Arleigh Burke), ships that share their names with their respective classes. In the first case, the report notes that the Navy acquired a total of 27 units between 1978 and 1988, with a complete retirement expected by the end of fiscal year 2027 after a failed modernization process due to high costs. On the other hand, it highlights that the Navy is currently introducing Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in their Flight III variant, making it necessary to move forward with the replacement of the original units acquired in the mid-1980s.
Subsequently, the document delves into the DDG(X) program itself, noting that the designation is temporary until a specific design is selected. It specifically states that the decision to purchase the first next-generation destroyers will be made in the early 2030s, practically coinciding with the conclusion of the Arleigh Burke Flight III incorporation process. As of now, only a few initial requirements are known for the future platform: a displacement of about 14,500 tons, a more powerful propulsion plant, and a new electrical generation system capable of supporting laser weapons, among other elements.
Directly related to the above, and addressing the main challenges of the DDG(X) program, the cited report refers to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) document that raises technical concerns regarding the design changes proposed by the U.S. Navy over the years. The GAO mainly questions whether the Navy has properly considered the impact of these changes on rising costs and industrial timelines.
In line with that reasoning, questions arise as to whether the service is taking the right steps to ensure a smooth transition to the new class, or if it might be more cost-efficient to develop a new variant of the Arleigh Burke rather than an entirely new class. This issue is far from minor, given that a similar problem has already affected the Constellation-class frigate program, which by mid-April this year had only reached about 10% progress in the construction of its first ship after more than three years of work.
At that time, sources familiar with the U.S. naval industry indicated that this represented a delay more than twice as long as originally expected, with all the implications that entails. The main argument was that instead of accepting the manufacturer’s original design (Fincantieri Marine Group), the Navy opted to integrate a broad range of modifications that required a complete redesign, while also reversing decisions multiple times. In concrete numbers, this also translated into a significant cost increase, with figures reported at around $1.4 billion compared to the $1 billion initially planned.
Finally, it is worth noting that the U.S. Navy is also in the process of acquiring its sixth-generation fighter, a program with a heavy budgetary burden that has already exceeded original cost estimates. So much so that in August, Congress introduced bills to inject additional funds into the program but urged the service to conduct closer oversight given how frequently these issues arise. The report on the DDG(X) also raises doubts about whether, if this path continues, the Navy’s future budget will be able to sustain all of these projects.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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