24 November 2022

ZEUS scopes combat system retrofit for DDG 1000 destroyers

by Richard Scott

USS Zumwalt arrives in Yokosuka, Japan, in September 2022. The ZEUS programme is considering opportunities to improve supportability and interoperability of the DDG 1000 destroyers by replacing unique components and systems with analogous systems common with other USN surface combatants. (US Navy)

Plans are being developed by the US Navy (USN) that would see key parts of the combat suite equipping the three DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers swapped out for command and sensor systems common to other US surface combatants.

The concept – dubbed the Zumwalt Enterprise Upgrade Solution (ZEUS) – is considering replacing a number of mission system components, including the ships' combat system software and undersea warfare suite. A sources sought notice was released by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) on 17 November, just days after first-of-class USS Zumwalt completed its maiden three-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

The three DDG 1000 destroyers – USS Zumwalt , USS Michael Monsoor, and the future USS Lyndon B Johnson – have been built with a Raytheon Missiles & Defense-developed combat suite underpinned by a shipwide Total Ship Computing Environment (TSCE) infrastructure. Specific components include the AN/SPY-3 X-band multifunction radar; the AN/SQQ-90 Integrated Undersea Warfare System (IUWS) combining the AN/SQS-60 hull-mounted mid-frequency sonar, the AN/SQS-61 hull-mounted high-frequency sonar, and the AN/SQR-20 multifunction towed-array sonar; and an Mk 57 vertical launching system (VLS) featuring 80 peripheral VLS cells.

Plans are being developed by the US Navy (USN) that would see key parts of the combat suite equippin...

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