CG(X)

The CG(X) is a planned new cruiser ship design of the U.S. Navy. It will be based upon the same hull design as the DD(X)/Zumwalt class destroyer. The CG(X) resulted after a massive cut to the SC21 (21st Century Surface Combatant) program. CG(X) replaces the CG21 component of SC21.

The CG(X) is intended to replace the existing "Ticonderoga"-class Aegis cruisers and provide improved missile defense and air warfare capabilities. It will share with DD(X) a common propulsion architecture and a stealthier, faceted hull form with tumblehome bow. This hull form will contain an integrated all-electric power system that is more efficient and survivable than today's propulsion systems, and provides more power capacity for future weapons. Estimate deployment is reported to be year 2017. [New Technology of War: "Sea Power", 2007, The Military Channel, aired January 9,2008, 8-9:00am MST.]

While the planned CG21 was much bigger than the DD21, the CG(X) is essentially a DD(X) hull with more VLSs in place of the gun system, displacing about 14,000 tons. The CG(X) will mark a narrowing of the previously much larger difference between cruisers and destroyers (see also 1975 ship reclassification).

Development

The New York Times on December 5, 2005, reported that the Navy plans to build 19 CG(X) ships for missile-defense.

The proposal from the Center for Naval Analyses is for an all-new, 25,000-ton nuclear-powered class cruiser under the CG(X) program. Optimized for seaborne ballistic missile defense, the primary armament for this hypothetical class would be the Standard Missile, with the possibility of larger vertical-launch silos (VLS) for Kinetic Energy Interceptor missiles. [ [http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/07/defense_cgx_070723/ Navy Times: "25,000 Ton Cruiser Under Consideration"] ]

On 31 October 2007, language that may be included in the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill would establish that the "policy of the United States" to use nuclear power for all major vessels, including destroyers and cruisers. House and Senate negotiators are reported to be at odds over the provision in the House-passed measure that would require the Navy to make its future fleet of surface combatants nuclear powered, and it is uncertain that the measure will carry through to the final legislation. [ [http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38442&dcn=e_ndw GovExec - Nuclear power rule for future Navy ships divides Hill negotiators] ]

Nuclear power is considered desirable for this proposed class due to long-endurance patrol demands, the very high electric power demands from the necessarily powerful BMD radar, and to provide a power margin for future developments like directed-energy weapons. Given the fact that this BMD cruiser is likely to be radiating its powerful radar most of the time while on station, stealth features would probably be dispensed with, resulting in a conventional hull-form with a flared bow in contrast to the much smaller DDG-1000 with its tumblehome bow.

ee also

* Navy Times

References

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cg-21.htm Global Security Information: CG(X)]
* [http://www.navy.com/about/shipsequipment/navyofthefuture/cgx/ US Navy: "Navy of the Future"]