Navy Plans ‘Large Surface Combatant’ Program to Succeed Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer

The U.S. Navy is planning to move away from constructing Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers and will start building the future large surface combatant which will replace the DDG-51 and Ticonderoga-class cruiser, USNI News reported Thursday. 

Rear Adm. Bill Galinis, head of the Navy’s program executive office for ships, told the publication that the service branch is “in the very early stages” of design development ahead of the transition from the DDG-51 to the LSC program. 

He noted that PEO Ships has plans in place to build over 15 destroyers from fiscal 2018 to 2022 and that the service intends to begin work on the LSC “with a capability and cost that are a good balance.” The Navy expects to commence LSC construction by 2026, according to Galinis.