Being anti-war doesn't mean being anti-military. Besides, I have a regard for military technology, especially Naval ships. So it's nice to see that money for the first two DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class destroyers has been awarded. These ships are a giant step forward in technology and not just in looks. The tumblehome design reduces the radar signature of these ships by 50-fold. They are also designed to push through waves rather than ride over them. The ships have an all electric integrative power system meaning that even the propulsion system is electric powered. The ships are capable of operating in much shallower water than previous destroyers and have an advanced gun system that can provide support fire up to 100 miles away. They also carry about 80 vertically-launched missles of various types The ships are designed to be operated with a crew of 140 persons, less than half of the usual 300 plus crews of current destroyers. This provides a significant cost savings in operating costs. There is, however, a debate on the stability of the hull design.
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