Work under the US Navy’s next-generation DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer programme is nearing completion.
Raytheon, the chief system integrator, has reported continued progress and is meeting key milestones on course to initial operational capability (IOC).
As part of the programme, Raytheon successfully completed a test readiness review of the total-ship computing environment software, release seven, which involved 550,000 lines of code.
The review represents the first delivery of combat system software, in addition to hull, mechanical and electrical ship control functionality.
The programme also involved a test of the warship’s AN/SPY-3 multi-function radar, which successfully tracked air targets using its diverse search and track modes, together with the new volume search.
Raytheon completed the third meeting of instructor-led ship control systems training with DDG 1000 pre-commissioning crew members in Bath, Maine, US.
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Seapower Capability Systems business area vice-president Kevin Peppe said: "Progress on milestones continues for the three ships of the class, in labs, at test facilities and dockside at the shipyard. It’s an exciting and rewarding time for the programme.
"The collaboration between industry and the navy has been outstanding, all moving forward with a common goal, to bring this transformational ship class to life."
Raytheon’s ship integration and test team at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine is supporting the ongoing system integration and testing, with 90% of the work on the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) already complete.
Work on the remaining vessels DDG 1001 and DDG 1002 is also underway at Bath, with 78% and 8% completed, respectively.
Image: The US Navy’s Zumwalt-class vessel DDG 1000 being floated out of dry dock. Photo: courtesy of General Dynamics.
