This
diary by
Steven D is fascinating to read. Many of the comments dealt with the problems the United States military would face in a conflict with
Iran or
China. So I thought I would list some of the weapons systems in development, some designed to address some of the problems listed in the other diary, and get reactions from the blog. At the very least, you can see what you're taxes are paying for.
Are they weapons we "need" to defend the country, or are they defense contractor pork that goes in the wrong direction?
Here's
some of the defense systems in the pipeline...
CVNX/CVN-21 Aircraft Carrier ($14 billion per ship - 2 planned)

This is the successor to the Nimitz-Class Carrier. Its main advancements are automation & a new nuclear reactor design that will reduce the size of the crew, and make it more cost effective than present-day aircraft carriers. So far 2 are planned. Construction on the first ship of the class, (CVN-78), will begin next year & be complete in 2015. It will replace the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) & may take her name...
...Overall, CVN 21 will increase sortie generation rate by 20 percent, increase survivability to better handle future threats and have depot maintenance requirements that could support an increase of up to 25 percent in operational availability. The new design nuclear propulsion plant and improved electric plant together provide three times the electrical generation capacity of a NIMITZ Class carrier. This capacity allows the introduction of new systems such as Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System, Advanced Arresting Gear, and a new integrated warfare system that will leverage advances in open systems architecture to be affordably upgraded. Other features include an enhanced flight deck, improved weapons handling and aircraft servicing efficiency, and a flexible island arrangement allowing for future technology insertion
Zumwalt-Class Destroyer ($2-5 billion per ship - 7 planned)

The ships of the DD(X) program are the successors to the Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer. It's in the middle of design review at present. The first ship of the class, USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), is scheduled to be launched in 2012. It's designed to reduce the radar cross section to make the ship appear as a fishing boat. It's also as quiet as a Los Angeles-Class attack submarine...
...DD(X) will be about 600 feet long, 79 feet wide, draw approximately 28 feet, and be capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots. Displacement will be approximately 14,000 tons. The ship's tumblehome design will make it appear smaller than it actually is on radar. Although nearly twice the displacement of a Spruance-class destroyer, through signature reductions and its unique tumblehome hull design, DD(X) will be a stealthy warship and present a radar cross section a fraction of Spruance-class ships.
A pair of 155mm guns, called the Advanced Gun System (AGS), will provide precision fire support at extended ranges. AGS will use the Long-Range Land-Attack Projectile (LRLAP) that can reach targets up to 100 miles away. The AGS will be completely automated and each DD(X) will have a magazine capacity of 600 rounds or more. The AGS has a water-cooled barrel and can achieve a rate of fire of up to 10 rounds per minute.
Two DD(X)s provide firepower equivalent to an entire battalion of 155mm howitzers, consisting of three batteries of six guns each, and the accompanying 58 cargo trucks, 42 utility trucks, 28 cargo trailers, two wrecker trucks, five water trailers, two medical vehicles, and 640 personnel.
CG(X) Missile Cruiser ($2 billion per ship - 19 planned)

This is the successor to the Ticonderoga-Class Aegis Missile Cruisers. It will share many design elements with the DD(X) program's Zumwalt-Class Destroyer. The first ships will launch around the middle of the next decade...
The CG(X) cruiser will replace the Ticonderoga class AEGIS cruisers. The CG(X) will provide an "umbrella" of air and missile defense with longer -range missiles, protecting carrier strike groups and the other DD(X) vessels. It will also be able to track and engage ballistic missiles hundreds of miles inland. Currently the CG(X) is in the design phase. Like the DD(X), CG(X) will have many advanced features not found on present Navy vessels. The CG(X) will have an even stealthier hull form than the hull form found on the larger DD(X) destroyer. This advanced hull form helps to reduce radar identification by other ships.
Like the DD(X) destroyer, the CG(X) cruiser will have an all-electric Integrated Power System (IPS) that is more efficient and survivable than the propulsion systems found on today's ships. The IPS can provide power to the entire ship. The benefits of IPS are many: reduced costs of ownership, reduced construction costs, a power source for future energy -type weapons, improved survivability, and greater architectural flexibility. The CG(X) will able to launch larger, faster and longer-range missiles to counter inland air threats hundreds of miles away. These new missiles will also be able to perform other missions in littoral (near-shore) regions.
A new generation of air defense radars will counter more elusive long-range, low-radar cross section threats. This will help provide sustained air superiority as well as detect, track and engage ballistic missiles beyond the atmosphere. CG(X) and DD(X) will share many automated features, which presently are performed manually. The result will be a smaller crew for the CG(X). As with the DD(X), the crew's focus will be on fighting versus ship maintenance.
Littoral Combat Ship ($260 million per ship - 55 planned)

You could either classify the LCS as a frigate or corvette (although I don't know if the US Navy ever calls its ships corvettes). It's designed for the high seas, but small enough to operate near the shoreline...
The LCS is an entirely new breed of U.S. Navy warship. A fast, agile, and networked surface combatant, LCS's modular, focused-mission design will provide Combatant Commanders the required warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to ensure maritime dominance and access for the joint force. LCS will operate with focused-mission packages that deploy manned and unmanned vehicles to execute missions as assigned by Combatant Commanders.
Primary missions are those that ensure and enhance friendly force access to littoral areas. Access-focused missions include the following primary missions:
-Anti-surface warfare (ASuW) against hostile small boats
-Mine Counter Measures (MCM)
-Littoral Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and may include the following secondary missions
-Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
-Homeland Defense / Maritime Intercept
-Special Operation Forces support
-Logistic support for movement of personnel and supplies.
As far as what kind of armaments & systems the LCS will have...
...No matter which mission modules are loaded, the ship will carry a 57mm naval gun and .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine guns, plus defensive systems including automated chaff/flare dispensers and a Raytheon RIM-116 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) launcher integrated into an upgraded version of the MK 15 Phalanx gun system's radar & IR sensors.
Internal capacity will allow Special Forces to be embarked for missions along with equipment. The ships will also rely on their onboard MH-60 helicopters and/or RQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter UAVs, plus other robotic vehicles including a Spartan Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) and a variety of Unmanned Underwater Vessels (UUV) for underwater operations. UUVs currently being tested for use with the LCS include the Bluefin 21 advance surveyor, WLD-1 which tows AQS-20 mine-hunting sonar, and others.
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ($45-60 million per plane)

The United States military plans on procuring about 2,000 of these craft. It is meant to replace:
It will have 3 variants, including a STOVL version (that replaces the Harrier). Here's the specs:
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 50 ft 6 in (15.37 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.65 m)
Height: 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m)
Wing area: 459.6 ft² (42.7 m²)
Empty weight: 26,000 lb (12,000 kg)
Loaded weight: 42,000 lb (19,000 kg)
Maximum gross takeoff weight: 50,000 lb (23,000 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan, 37,100 lbf (165 kN)
Secondary (High Performance), discontinued in current budget proposal[16]: 1x General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 afterburning turbofan 178 kN thrust
Lift fan (STOVL): 1x Rolls-Royce Lift System in conjunction with either F135 or F136 power plant 18,000 lbf (80 kN) thrust)
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 (1,200 mph, 2,000 km/h)
Cruise speed: Mach (mph, km/h)
Range: 620 miles (1,000 km)
Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (15,000 m)
Rate of climb: 40,000 ft/min[17] (200 m/s)
Wing loading: 91.4 lb/ft² (446 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.63:1