Delivery of first two Zumwalt class destroyers delayed

MARCH 10, 2015 — Delivery of the first two destroyers in the Zumwalt class has been pushed back by the Navy and shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.

Delivery of the lead ship Zumwalt (DDG 1000) had been set for this summer, but the target date is now November. Delivery of the second ship, Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) has been pushed back a few months in 2016, to November of that year. The third and last ship in the program, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) is still scheduled for delivery in December 2018.

In an echo of problems that have caused delays to the first in class aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), (see earlier story), the problems with the DDG 1000 relate to the advanced technology the ships incorporate,

“The schedule delay is due primarily to the challenges encountered with completing installation, integration and testing of the highly unique, leading edge technology designed into this first-of-class warship,” Cmdr. Thurraya Kent, spokeswoman for the Navy’s acquisition directorate, said in a statement.

“Navy and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works continue to work together in evaluating schedule impacts for all ships under construction in Bath, Maine, which also includes ships under construction for the Aegis Class Destroyer Program,” said Commander Kent. “Both the Navy and BIW are committed to collectively managing risks and controlling costs to deliver both DDG 1000 and DDG 51-class ships to the fleet in the most efficient manner possible.”

DDG 1000 is the first U.S. Navy surface combatant to employ an innovative and highly survivable Integrated Power System (IPS). Key design features that make the DDG 1000 IPS architecture unique include the ability to provide power to propulsion, ship’s service, and combat system loads from the same gas turbine prime movers. DDG 1000’s power allocation flexibility allows for potentially significant energy savings and is well-suited to enable future high energy weapons and sensors.