Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:09:00

Why Zumwalt and LCS had different programme failures

The panel contrasts an LCS programme burdened with incompatible demands with a Zumwalt judged against unrealistic expectations rather than its useful design potential.

155 mm Advanced Gun SystemAegis Combat SystemLittoral Combat ShipNaval ProcurementUS NavyVertical Launch SystemsZumwalt Class Destroyers
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

What was the US Navy thinking with both the Zumwalt and LCS programmes?

Short answer

LCS became overloaded by competing demands, while Zumwalt was judged against unrealistic expectations despite potential as a powerful air-defence destroyer.

Notes

The LCS became a vehicle for every stakeholder's desired feature, whereas Zumwalt was criticised for failing to match an imagined standard. Problems with the railgun and Advanced Gun System did not erase the value of the hull, power system, and peripheral vertical-launch cells. The panel suggests retaining one Advanced Gun System, replacing the other position with more VLS, and integrating Aegis for fleet air defence. A fuller build could then have produced unusually powerful air-defence destroyers instead of treating the land-attack weapon's failure as proof that the entire ship was useless.