The U.S. Navy’s New DDG(X) Destroyer Can Be Explained Just 2 Words

PUBLISHED on August 14, 2025, 3:21 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary: The U.S. Navy’s next-generation guided-missile destroyer, the DDG(X), is a critical “clean-sheet” design intended to replace the aging Ticonderoga and Arleigh Burke classes.

-This 14,500-ton warship will feature an advanced integrated power system, enhanced stealth, and significant growth margins for future weapons like lasers.

USS John Finn (DDG 113) arrives Nov. 15 at the Port of Hueneme for routine Combat System Assessment Team (CSAT) repairs and training. The ship is one of four in the fleet with an Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy — also known as ODIN. The ODIN laser weapon system stuns enemy drones threatening surface ships. The destroyer also has two helicopter hangars, big enough to hold an MH-60R Seahawk Romeo multi-mission helicopter and the MH-60S Knighthawk Sierra helicopter. (U.S. Navy Photo by Dana Rene White/Released)

-However, the program is already facing major headwinds. The Congressional Budget Office projects a cost of $4.4 billion per ship—33% higher than the Navy’s estimate—and critical technologies like the power system and new hull form are creating potential bottlenecks that could delay its planned 2032 procurement start date.

The DDG(X) Challenge for the U.S. Navy 

The DDG(X) is the U.S. Navy’s next-generation guided-missile cruiser, currently under development.

Intended to replace the old Ticonderoga-class and Arleigh Burke-class, the DDG(X) was built to become the new backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet.

It was developed after the cancellation of the CG(X), the Navy’s previous attempt to replace its missile cruiser fleet, which ultimately failed.

Built From the Ground Up

The DDG(X) is being developed with a clean-sheet design approach, meaning it is not a modification of existing platforms, but a completely new ship tailored to future operational needs.

It will have a displacement of approximately 14,500 tons, making it significantly larger than the current DDG-51 Flight III destroyers. This increased size allows for greater capacity in terms of weapons, sensors, and power generation.

The ship will incorporate elements of the Aegis combat system, which is currently used on the DDG-51, but will also feature a more advanced integrated power system similar to that found on the Zumwalt-class destroyers. This turboelectric drive system will enable more efficient power distribution, allowing for better and more efficient power usage.

One of the key design goals of the DDG(X) is to provide enhanced growth margins in space, weight, power, and cooling. These margins are critical for accommodating future upgrades and emerging technologies.

The ship will also feature improved stealth characteristics, including reduced infrared, acoustic, and underwater electromagnetic signatures, which will enhance survivability in high-threat environments. In terms of armament, the baseline design includes 96 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, with the option to replace 32 of these with 12 larger missile launch cells. Additionally, the ship will be equipped with two 21-cell Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launchers for close-in defense.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) participates in a photo exercise alongside the U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy during Operation NANOOK (OP NANOOK), Aug. 18, 2024. OP NANOOK is the Canadian Armed Forces’ annual series of Arctic exercises designed to enhance defense capabilities, ensure the security of northern regions, and improve interoperability with Allied forces. Black participated in the operation alongside the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian and Danish Allies to bolster Arctic readiness and fulfill each nation’s defense commitments. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rylin Paul)

The Navy is also exploring modular expansion options for the DDG(X), such as the Destroyer Payload Module, which would allow for increased payload capacity through a mid-body hull section. This modularity is intended to provide flexibility in mission configuration and future upgrades.

The DDG(X) will be capable of operating independently or as part of a larger task force, and its design emphasizes adaptability to a wide range of missions, from ballistic missile defense to anti-submarine warfare.

DDG(X) In Two Words: Big Trouble 

As of 2025, the DDG(X) program is progressing through its design and feasibility phase. The Navy approved the ship’s top-level requirements in December 2020 and has been conducting tradeoff and design studies since 2018. These studies concluded that a new hull form is necessary to meet future operational requirements. In August 2024, the Navy revised the operational requirements to increase speed and electrical power, reflecting feedback from fleet operators and leadership. These changes are currently being assessed for their impact on schedule and cost, but updated estimates have not yet been released.

The Navy has taken back primary responsibility for designing the DDG(X), with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) leading the effort. This marks a shift from previous practices where industry partners played a larger role in early design phases. The Navy plans to begin procurement of the DDG(X) in fiscal year 2032, with one to two ships expected to be ordered annually thereafter. The transition from DDG-51 to DDG(X) will include a three-year overlap to ensure continuity in shipbuilding and fleet readiness.

How Much Will It Cost

Cost is always a major concern for any up-and-coming program and the DDG(X) is no exception. According to a January 2025 report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the estimated cost per ship is $4.4 billion in constant fiscal year 2024 dollars.

This is significantly higher than the Navy’s own estimate of $3.3 billion per ship, representing a 33 percent discrepancy. This difference highlights the challenges of accurately projecting costs for complex defense programs and raises concerns about potential budget overruns.

Zumwalt-class Guided Missile Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) transits the Pacific Ocean, June 25, 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug 4 in and around Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

The Navy’s fiscal year 2026 budget request includes $51.6 million for concept development and $81.9 million for power and propulsion risk mitigation and demonstration.

The House Appropriations Committee has recommended an additional $30 million for dual propulsion motor development. These investments are aimed at reducing technical risk and ensuring the feasibility of the integrated power system before full-scale production begins.

Why the U.S. Needs the DDG(X)

Two bottlenecks are currently slowing down the DDG(X) program: the integrated power system and the new hull form.

While the integrated power system offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency and flexibility, it requires extensive testing and validation.

The Navy plans to model the system at a land-based test site; however, the results may not be available in time to fully inform the ship’s design. The new hull form must strike a balance between performance, survivability, and payload capacity, with ongoing risk reduction activities addressing these challenges.

The United States Navy has a strong need for the DDG(X) program to succeed for several reasons. The ship’s value lies in its role within the Navy’s broader modernization efforts. The Navy’s updated force-level goal, released in 2023, calls for a fleet of 381 ships, including 87 large surface combatants.

The U.S. Navy Gerald R. Ford–class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 4 June 2020, marking the first time a Gerald R. Ford–class and a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier operated together underway.

These combatants are essential for maintaining sea control, projecting power, and defending carrier strike groups. The DDG(X) will be a key component of this future fleet, designed to operate in contested environments and counter advanced threats from peer adversaries like China and Russia.

About the Author: Isaac Seitz 

Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.

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