Image source: topwar.ru
Naval forces of the United States come to grips with the issues of modernization of their operational capabilities. One of the key objectives is to increase the speed of deployment of ships and ships that should give the benefits of the us Navy in comparison with the fleets of potential adversaries.
The commander of surface forces of the Navy, Vice Admiral Roy Kitchener had previously published a report entitled "Surface combat actions: competitive advantage", which sets out five key priorities for the development of the American surface fleet. In fact we are talking about the main directions of further improvement of the combat capabilities of the U.S. Navy.
One of those expressed by Vice-Admiral Kitchener ideas is the specifics of the translation of newly-built ships in the fleet of the Navy. He proposes to abandon which can last six to eight months of the mode of preparation of the ship for operation after a new ship out of the shipyard.
The U.S. Navy can experiment with the implementation of the proposal on one of its destroyers under construction to better understand what it will take to complete all construction and installation works. In addition, the U.S. Navy are examining the possibility of accelerating the modernization of the ships that are already in the Navy. As part of the modernization is expected to equip the destroyers Arleigh Burke Flight IIA new radar, combat systems, and electronic warfare packages.
Initially it was assumed that modernization would take two years or more. But Vice-Admiral Kitchener believes that the Navy is unable to stay so long without destroyers, as this will affect its combat effectiveness. So all the work in the framework of the modernization of the ships should be made in a short time. The U.S. Navy sent a request to the largest companies working in the field of shipbuilding, electronics and weapons, asking whether the Association of the modernization of the ships in modules that would allow work to proceed at different times.
Kitchener also stated in the report that the Navy will invest in the development of surface engineering objects that allow you to more quickly prepare ships for testing and military deployment.
Within the announced program it is planned to upgrade the following ships of the surface fleet of the U.S. Navy:
destroyers of the Zumwalt class (DDG 1000);
destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class DDG 51 Flight III configuration;
the Constellation class frigates (FFG 62);
light amphibious ships;
medium unmanned surface vehicle;
amphibious transport dock-class San Antonio LPD 17 Flight II.
