Alex Clarke separates Zumwalt's useful hull from the specialized systems that undermined the program. His alternative would replace the aft Advanced Gun System with Mark 41 VLS, fit a five-inch gun forward, and change the radar. The conventional fit is a hypothetical alternative. Continuing the class would also have preserved a newer hull design as older Arleigh Burkes approached retirement. Sal Mercogliano adds that the yards were producing fewer Burkes than before and that switching Bath's production toward Zumwalt had disrupted the previous line.
Chapter · 29:48-31:14
Zumwalt's hull survived its failed mission systems
A conventional gun-and-VLS Zumwalt could have preserved a modern hull and avoided another disruptive return to Burke production.