Q&A ยท 1:49:46-1:50:14

Replacing Zumwalt's AGS with updated 8-inch guns

Updated 8-inch Mark 71 guns with modern guided ammunition could make Zumwalt useful and ease the first stage of Arleigh Burke replacement.

Question

What if the Zumwalt class replaced its AGS mounts one-for-one with updated 8-inch Mark 71 guns?

Short answer

It could yield a capable destroyer suited to replacing early Arleigh Burkes while later replacement plans matured.

Notes

The proposal replaces each Advanced Gun System mount with an updated 8-inch Mark 71 using modern guided ammunition. That arrangement could produce a capable destroyer. The ships could begin replacing early Flight I Arleigh Burkes rather than displacing every Burke variant at once. This would buy the US Navy time to plan successors for the later Flight II and Flight IIA ships.