First-flight Arleigh Burkes have a helicopter landing platform without facilities for routinely carrying their own helicopters. The carrier and other escorts supply the aircraft, while the Burke provides somewhere to land and refuel, and possibly rearm. This arrangement concentrates the destroyer's contribution on its missiles, computers, and large radar array. Aircraft that get past the carrier's Tomcats still face the destroyer's defences. The same ship can strike land positions that would be dangerous for aircraft to attack and use its 5-inch gun against small boats in a strait.
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First-flight Burkes screen the carrier group
Early Burkes rely on helicopters elsewhere in the carrier group while concentrating on missiles, radar, and surface and land attack.