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Description

In late 2025 the U.S. Navy would modify one of its Arleigh Burke class destroyers to the experimental Flight IV standard. The chosen ship, the Thomas G. Kelly being the youngest of the Burke's, would receive a number of upgrades that would late pave the way for ships like the Constitution II and Oregon Class. The most visually apparent change being the lengthening of the hull by about 50 feet to a total length of 559.5 feet long. This was to make room for two of the Flight IV's AN/SEQ-4A Laser Weapons Systems. Part of the programs experimental package included an "all laser" CWIS armament. A total of 7 lasers placed around the hull gave the ship excellent coverage and rate of intercept. These systems were optimized for use within about 5 nautical miles and were capable of downing high speed missiles with incredible efficiency. However, they became less accurate with continued use as the lasers heated up the air around the ship, warping the beams.

Perhaps more important than the laser systems was the Flight IV's advanced CIC and sensor suite. Using a version of sensor fusion and distributed aperture systems, borrowed from the F-35 Block 4 program, the new system offered unprecedented situational awareness and electronic warfare capabilities. The upgraded CIC also made the ship ideal for command and control, allowing seamless integration with any air, land and sea assets in a battle-space. Along with a host of other major and minor computer and electronic upgrades, this made the Flight IV the worlds most advanced ship in terms of fire control and command capabilities.

Despite the Flight IV's exceptional advancements, ultimately only the one ship received the upgrade. Total cost for the conversion exceeded 500 million USD, nearly a third of the ship's total base cost, and with promising projects like the DDG(X) and the Oregon Class (currently only known as project Whitetail) on the horizon the Navy saw little need for such an expensive upgrade program. While the Arleigh Burke would remain in service well into the 2050s they would only receive periodic improvements, most of which were aimed at maintaining a bare minimum of capability as part of a fleet of much more advanced ships.

Link to 3D model: skfb.ly/oG7AK

Description

In late 2025 the U.S. Navy would modify one of its Arleigh Burke class destroyers to the experimental Flight IV standard. The chosen ship, the Thomas G. Kelly being the youngest of the Burke's, would receive a number of upgrades that would late pave the way for ships like the Constitution II and Oregon Class. The most visually apparent change being the lengthening of the hull by about 50 feet to a total length of 559.5 feet long. This was to make room for two of the Flight IV's AN/SEQ-4A Laser Weapons Systems. Part of the programs experimental package included an "all laser" CWIS armament. A total of 7 lasers placed around the hull gave the ship excellent coverage and rate of intercept. These systems were optimized for use within about 5 nautical miles and were capable of downing high speed missiles with incredible efficiency. However, they became less accurate with continued use as the lasers heated up the air around the ship, warping the beams.

Perhaps more important than the laser systems was the Flight IV's advanced CIC and sensor suite. Using a version of sensor fusion and distributed aperture systems, borrowed from the F-35 Block 4 program, the new system offered unprecedented situational awareness and electronic warfare capabilities. The upgraded CIC also made the ship ideal for command and control, allowing seamless integration with any air, land and sea assets in a battle-space. Along with a host of other major and minor computer and electronic upgrades, this made the Flight IV the worlds most advanced ship in terms of fire control and command capabilities.

Despite the Flight IV's exceptional advancements, ultimately only the one ship received the upgrade. Total cost for the conversion exceeded 500 million USD, nearly a third of the ship's total base cost, and with promising projects like the DDG(X) and the Oregon Class (currently only known as project Whitetail) on the horizon the Navy saw little need for such an expensive upgrade program. While the Arleigh Burke would remain in service well into the 2050s they would only receive periodic improvements, most of which were aimed at maintaining a bare minimum of capability as part of a fleet of much more advanced ships.

Link to 3D model: skfb.ly/oG7AK