The U.S. Navy's DDG 1000 next-generation land-attack destroyer is being engineered with a stealthy, precision strike Advanced Gun System (AGS) that can pinpoint land-targets with GPS precision at ranges up to 63-nautical miles, service and industry officials said at the Sea Air Space Expo at National Harbor, Md.
The AGS consists of a range of elements. It features a stealthily configured gun with an automated magazine. The 155mm munition called the Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP) has a propellant charge to send the round toward its targets, said Charlie McCullough, director of business development, Land and Armaments, BAE Systems.
In November 2012, BAE Systems received an $80 million modification contract award to add an AGS for the latest in the Zumwalt-class fleet, the DDG 1002.
The LRLAP has both GPS as well as Inertial Measurement Unit guidance systems and is configured to destroy land-based or "fixed" targets, McCullough said. The LRLAP’s strike range greatly exceeds the range of most Navy destroyers existing 5-inch guns, he added.
The LRLAP has performed well thus far in recent tests, McCullough added.
"We did seven tests in the last month. During the tests, you stress the system in flight regimes and in temperature regimes to make sure that it works and that it fits within all the desired parameters," McCullough said.
Overall, the DDG 1000 is on track with its current development, said Capt. Jim Downey, program manager, DDG 1000. The Zumwalt-class of guided missile destroyers, the DDG 1000 is engineered with two Vertical Launch Systems for missiles and two AGS as well as X-band radar.
The Navy plans to build at least three DDG 1000s and the first two are already on contract, said Chris Johnson, NAVSEA public affairs.
"We're expecting delivery of our first ship in 2014 and plan for Initial Operating Capability by 2016," said Downey.
