Arleigh Burke vs Zumwalt
Arleigh Burke vs Zumwalt at a glance — displacement 9,900 vs 15,907 tons, length 155 vs 190 m, speed 31 vs 30 knots, crew 323 vs 147.
| Arleigh Burke | Zumwalt | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Destroyer | Destroyer |
| Type | Guided-missile destroyer | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Manufacturer | Ingalls Shipbuilding | Bath Iron Works |
| Year introduced | 1991 | 2016 |
| Number built | 78 units | 3 units |
| Estimated unit price | $2,200 million | $4,240 million |
| Displacement | 9,900 tons | 15,907 tons |
| Maximum speed | 31.0 knots | 30.0 knots |
| Range | 4,400 nm at 20 knots | NA |
| Length | 155.3 m | 190.0 m |
| Beam | 20.0 m | 24.6 m |
| Crew | 323 | 147 |
| Arleigh Burke | Zumwalt | |
|---|---|---|
| Armament |
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| Propulsion | 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines each generating 26,250 bhp (19,570 kW); coupled to two shafts, each driving a five-bladed reversible controllable-pitch propeller; Total output: 105,000 bhp (78,000 kW) | 2 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines (35.4 MW each) driving Curtiss-Wright electric generators; 2 × Rolls-Royce RR4500 turbine generators (3.8 MW each); 2 × propellers driven by electric motors (Total: 78 MW) |
Detailed Comparison
The Arleigh Burke class and Zumwalt class constitute the guided-missile destroyer inventory of the United States Navy. While the Arleigh Burke has formed the core of the surface fleet since 1991 with 78 units completed, the Zumwalt program produced only three hulls commissioned starting in 2016. The former serves as a high-volume, multi-mission platform utilizing the Aegis Combat System, while the latter was designed as a low-observable, land-attack vessel before mission requirements shifted toward surface warfare and hypersonic integration.
Development and Design
The Arleigh Burke utilizes a conventional steel hull with a flaring bow and steel/Kevlar-protected superstructure, displacing approximately 9,900 tons. The design focuses on seakeeping and survivability, with NBC air-filtration systems standard. The Zumwalt employs a tumblehome hull form that narrows above the waterline to reduce radar cross-section. Displacing 15,907 tons, the Zumwalt is roughly 6,000 tons heavier than the Burke. The Zumwalt program breached Nunn-McCurdy cost limits, reaching $22.5 billion for three ships ($4.24 billion per unit), compared to the Arleigh Burke unit cost of roughly $2.2 billion.
Weapons and Sensors
The Arleigh Burke armament centers on 90 to 96 Mk 41 VLS cells, capable of launching SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, ESSM, and Tomahawk missiles. Surface defense is provided by a 127mm gun, Phalanx CIWS, and SeaRAM on select units. Flight I and II ships carry Harpoon launchers, while Flight III integrates the SPY-6 radar for enhanced tracking. The Zumwalt features 80 Mk 57 VLS cells mounted peripherally to mitigate internal explosion risks. The primary armament was originally two 155mm Advanced Gun Systems (AGS). Following ammunition cancellation, these systems remained inactive; 2023 modernization plans involve removing the AGS to install hypersonic missile modules. Both classes support MH-60R helicopters, with the Zumwalt also integrating MQ-8 Fire Scout UAVs.
Propulsion and Performance
Arleigh Burke destroyers utilize four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines in a COGAG arrangement, generating 105,000 bhp for speeds exceeding 30 knots. The crew complement averages 323 personnel. The Zumwalt introduces an Integrated Electric Propulsion system, where Rolls-Royce MT30 turbines generate 78 MW to power electric drive motors and ship systems. This Linux-based Total Ship Computing Environment enables automation in fire suppression and cargo handling, reducing the crew size to 147. Both ships maintain a top speed of 30 knots, though the Zumwalt hull form demonstrated stability in sea state six during trials.
Deployment and Combat Record
Since 1991, the Arleigh Burke class has conducted Tomahawk strikes in Iraq (1996, 1998, 2003) and ballistic missile defense missions in Europe and the Middle East. Between 2016 and 2024, deployed units intercepted anti-ship missiles and drones in the Red Sea and achieved the first combat intercept of a ballistic missile in April 2024. The class has suffered hull losses from the USS Cole bombing and collisions involving USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain. The Zumwalt class has not engaged in combat. Operational history is limited to sea trials, heavy weather testing, and ongoing systems reconfiguration in the Pacific theater.
Conclusion
The Arleigh Burke class provides established fleet air defense and ballistic missile interception capabilities across a widely distributed fleet. The Zumwalt class represents a specialized, heavier platform incorporating electric propulsion and stealth technologies. While the Burke continues production to meet capacity requirements, the Zumwalt remains limited to three units currently undergoing modification to replace failed gun systems with long-range strike capabilities.