A Look at the Navy's New Tech-Heavy Destroyer

A rendering of the Zumwalt class destroyer. The design is being led by Raytheon along with partners at BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northop Grumman and the U.S. Navy.

The Electronic Modular Enclosures, seen here at Raytheon's Seapower Capability Center in Portsmouth, R.I.

A replica of the DDG 1000, seen at Raytheon's Seapower Capability Center, in Portsmouth, R.I.

A data sheet showcases the comparison between the next-generation DDG 1000 and the current-gen DDG 51. The Zumwalt class destroyer is 610 feet long and has a flight deck 150 feet by 51 feet, while the DDG 51 is just 509 feet long with a flight deck just 71 feet by 57 feet.

The DDG 1000 is designed to both aim high-precision fire in the areas near shore that could harbor enemies, while also being able to aim several different rounds of artillery at a group of targets with the idea of scaring them into compliance.

Thanks to advances in acoustics, the DDG 1000, it is designed to have a much wider range in which it can travel quietly--and therefore safely. In these two images, the colors designate the differences between the current-generation DDG 51's capabilities, and those of the DDG 1000.

The DDG 1000's underwater capabilities, including technologies for "in-stride mine avoidance," "advanced countermeasures," and "next-generation quieting."

The Zumwalt will feature the state of the art in acoustic sensors.

The Zumwalt class will feature three ships: the USS Zumwalt--DDG 1000, the USS Michael Monsoor--DDG 1001, and the as yet named DDG 1002, seen here in an artist's rendering.

A scale model of the dual-band radar slated for the Zumwalt-class destroyers.

Another view of the dual-band radar.

Replica of the DDG 1000's actual bridge seen here at Raytheon's Seapower Capability Center in Portsmouth, R.I.

The DDG 1000 Total Ship Computing Environment offers a scalable computing platform for new mission capabilities. It also leverages existing lines of code from Navy programs.

A side-view schematic of the DDG 1000.