The US Navy’s first Zumwalt-class (DDG 1000) guided-missile destroyer is reportedly set to undergo its initial sea trials next month.
US Navy official for research, acquisition and development Sean Stackley was quoted by DefenseNews as saying: "We’ve got a builder’s sea trial with a notional start of the 7th of December."
The vessels are currently under construction at General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard.
Last month, the ship was put through 96-hour, four-day ‘fast cruise’ extensive tests at the shipyard.
Stackley added: "We did everything from rolling the shafts, bringing up and down systems, testing failure modes, testing watch station effectiveness.
"You’re limited in terms of radiation, radiating things while next to the pier. But we did everything that we could next to the pier prior to getting underway."
USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) was originally scheduled to be delivered this year, but is now expected to be handed over to the navy next year.
As part of a two-phase delivery approach, the vessel will become operational only after it is fitted with combat systems, radars and other sensors.
Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), the second destroyer, will be delivered in November 2016. The delivery of Lyndon B Johnson (DDG 1002), in December 2018, remains on schedule.
The 610ft-long Zumwalt multi-mission surface combatants have a displacement capacity of more than 15,700t when fully loaded, and are designed for littoral operations and land attack.
Featuring new technologies that provide capabilities now and for incorporation into future ships, the destroyers are equipped with highly survivable integrated power systems.
