Design changes make Maine-built ‘stealth’ destroyer less stealthy

[jpak]

Source: Bangor Daily News

BATH, Maine — External masts added to the design of three Bath-built “stealth” destroyers increase the radar profile of the warships, but the new vessels still meet the Navy’s “threshold” for stealth.

A little more than two weeks before the lead ship, the future USS Zumwalt, is scheduled to sail down the Kennebec River for a second round of sea trials, USNI News reported design changes that added a mast and sensor to the outside of the vessels.

“The three ships will position sensors originally designed to be embedded in the ships’ composite deckhouses on a mast positioned on the front of the deck house, with several more sensors on either side of the deck house,” the trade journal reported.

Naval Sea Systems Command told USNI News the ships will still meet minimum requirements for “stealth.”

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Read more: https://bangordailynews.com/2016/03/09/news/midcoast/design-changes-make-maine-built-stealth-destroyer-less-stealthy/?ref=regionstate

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ugh

[melm00se]

1. who asked for the change?

if the Navy did: shame on the Navy
if the builder did: shame on the builder
if, as the article mentioned, it was legal requirement: was this vetted before implemented as to the implications of the design change?

[PersonNumber503602]

2. 7 billion dollars to meet the minimum requirements?

That sounds like a sweet deal!