Why the United States keeps building Arleigh Burkes

Does the need to keep replacing ships help explain continued Arleigh Burke construction?

Yes. Ongoing orders provide replacements for ageing ships, increasingly including earlier Arleigh Burkes.

American commitments require ships to remain available while older hulls approach replacement. Continued Arleigh Burke construction supplies new vessels for those duties. The replacement cycle now includes older members of the same class. The immediate requirement is to sustain the fleet's ability to meet its commitments.