The ship would have the equivalent ordnanceóabout 500 vertically launched weapons from a wide variety of the militaryís inventoryóof about four or five Aegis cruisers and destroyers. Employing the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) ìremote magazineî launch concept, the arsenal ship would provide additional magazine capacity for Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (TBMD) and Air Supremacy missiles.


The Navy envisioned the ship to have a small crew (possibly less than 50 members) and be highly survivable. Associated with minimizing ship costs and manning is the planned reliance on passive survivability, so that it would be very difficult for the Arsenal Ship to be hit by modern weapons. This may be achieved by a combination of reducing the signatures of the ship and the tactical use of countermeasures. If the ship is hit by a missile or a torpedo, the design would insure that the magazines are not violated. Finally, the hull would be sized and designed such that, even if the ship encounters a large torpedo or mine, the ship won't sink.

The Navy planned to maintain the Arsenal Ship forward deployed in major overseas regions for extended periods by rotating the shipís crew and returning the ship only for major maintenance and overhauls. This plan would allow the Navy to use fewer Arsenal Ships to maintain overseas presence than if the ships were deployed routinely from the United States and permit their early availability in a conflict. Additionally, if the Arsenal Ship concept proves successful and within its cost projections (around $500 million for construction of each ship), DOD and the Navy may be able to retire or forego purchases of some assets, such as aircraft carriers, surface combatants, ground-based launchers, or combat aircraft.

Originally posted by MakodFilu
As Arleigh Burke class destroyers have 90-96 missiles and SSGN purposed conversions form Ohio class SSBNs could have 154 missiles, I don't think a big low moving target is a great idea.

[edit]: ...and 5 DDG-51s cost $100,000,000, a fifth of its prize.

Some of the design work has been incorporated into the SC-21 and DD-21 (now SC(X) and DD(X) ) program, thought.

[Edited on 2002-12-31 by MakodFilu]

The Navy's original plans were for at least 20 ships of the DDG 51 Class, with the potential for up to a total of 60 ships. Current plans are for 57 DDG 51 Class destroyers through FY 2004 representing an estimated total program cost of $40-45 billion with the last ship scheduled to deliver in the year 2009.

Originally posted by mad scientist
To clear things up an ArleighBourke class ship costs between $US700million and $US790million.