16 Navy Ships That Are Changing The Future Of Modern Warfare

 USS Coronado

The USS Coronado is a littoral combat ship and Independent class battleship that is designed for coastal warfare with surface, mine, and anti-submarine warfare missions. Two Seahawks and one Fire Scout can be held on this ship’s large flight deck.
640px-USS_Coronado_(LCS-4)_underway_in_April_2014

  • Size: 418 ft (127.4 m)
  • Top Speed: 47 knots

Sensors / Processing Systems

  • Sea Giraffe 3D Surface – Air RADAR
  • Bridgemaster-E Navigational RADAR
  • AN/KAX-2 EO/IR sensor for GFC

Armament

  • BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm gun
  • .50 cal guns (4)
  • Evolved SeaRAM 11 cell missile launcher

 

HMS Queen Elizabeth

The HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest battleship to ever be built for the Royal Navy. It can carry up to 40 aircraft and was designed for quick attacks. With room for as many as 250 Royal Marines, the ship can quickly maneuver and engage in warfare. It has a Phalanx Close-in Weapon System which is particularly efficient for aircraft and missile attacks.
640px-HMS_Queen_Elizabeth_Under_Construction_MOD_45158465

  • Size in Length: 920 ft (280 m)
  • Highest Speed: 25 knots

Sensors / Processing Systems

  • S1850M long range radar
  • Type 997 Artisan 3D medium range radar
  • Ultra Electronics Series 2500 Electro Optical System

Armament

  • Phalanx CIWS
  • 30 mm guns and mini-guns – asymmetric threats

 

HMS Defender

The HMS Defender is the fifth Daring-class air-defense destroyer type 45 to be built for the Royal Navy.  It was designed for anti-air warfare and has a Sea Viper (PAAMS) air defense system. It also has a Sampson radar system to track objects, even very small ones that are traveling at supersonic speeds. It is difficult to attack this ship with stealth or saturation attacks.
640px-Royal_Navy_Destroyer_HMS_Defender_(D36)

  • Size: 500 ft (152.4 m)
  • Top Speed: 29 knots

Sensors/Processing Systems

  • SAMPSON multi function air tracking radar – Type 1045
  • S1850M 3-D air surveillance radar – Type 1046
  • Raytheon I band Radar – Type 1047 (2)
  • Raytheon E/F band Radar – Type 1048 (1)
  • Ultra Electronics Series 2500 Electro Optical Gun Control System – EOGCS
  • Ultra Electronics SML Technologies radar tracking system
  • Ultra Electronics / EDO MFS 7000 sonar

Armament

  • Sea Viper air defence system.
  • 48-cell Sylver A50 VLS (1)
  • Aster 15 missiles with 1.7 to 30 km range
  • Aster 30 missiles with 3 to 120 km range
  • Quad Harpoon launchers (2)
  • BAE 4.5 inch Mk 8 naval gun (1)
  • Oerlikon 30 mm guns (2)
  • Phalanx CIWS (2)
  • Mini-guns (2)
  • General purpose machine guns (6)

 

USS Independence

The USS Independence (LCS-2) is the lead ship of the modern Independence-class. She is the 6th ship of the US Navy to be named for the concept of independence.
640px-USS_Independence_LCS-2_at_pierce_(cropped)


  • Size: 418 ft (127.4 m)
  • Top Speed: 44 knots

Sensors / Processing Systems

  • SAAB Sea GIRAFFE 3D air and surface search radar
  • Sperry Marine BridgeMaster E navigational radar
  • AN/KAX-2 electro-optical sensor with TV and FLIR
  • Northrop Grumman Integrated Combat Management System

Armament

  • AGM-114L/N Hellfire missiles
  • BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm gun (1)
  • .50-cal guns (4)
  • Mk44 Bushmaster II 30 mm chain guns (2)
  • Raytheon SeaRAM CIWS (1)

 

USS Zumwalt

The USS Zumwalt, named for Admiral Elmo Zumwalt was designed to be stealthy, appearing to be no larger than a fishing boat on radar, despite is great size in reality.
640px-Future_USS_Zumwalt's_first_underway_at_sea

  • Size: 600 ft (182.9 m)
  • Top Speed: 30.3 knots

Sensors / Processing Systems

  • AN/SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar
  • Volume Search Radar

Armament

  • MK 57 VLS modules (20)
  • RIM-66 Standard
  • Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
  • BGM-109 Tomahawk
  • RUM-139 Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket
  • 155 mm Advanced Gun System (2)
  • 2 Mk 46 30 mm gun (GDLS)

 

USNS Spearhead

The USNS Spearhead is a United States ship that was designed for both warfare and non-warfare missions. It can carry as many as 312 troops and can be quickly refitted to change from a non-combat situation to a combat situation as needed.
640px-USNS_Spearhead_(JHSV-1)_-_6

  • Size: 337 ft 11 in (103 m)
  • Top Speed: 43 knots

Special Features

  • Landing pad (medium-sized helicopter)

 

USS Gerald R. Ford

The USS Gerald R. Ford is another United States ship which, a super carrier in the Navy. It was named in honor of the service of President Gerald R. Ford during WWII. It can hold more than 75 aircraft and should be in service for about fifty years.
620px-CVN-78_Artist_Image

  • Size: 1,106 ft (337 m)
  • Top Speed: 30 knots

Armament

  • RIM-162 ESSM
  • RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
  • Close-in weapon system

 

USS America

The USS America is an amphibious assault ship which has an onboard hospital and a large flight deck for Viper and Venom helicopters.
640px-USSAmericaByPhilKonstantin

  • Size: 844 ft (357.3 m)
  • Top Speed: 22+ knots

Sensors / Processing Systems

  • AN/SPQ-9B fire control
  • AN/SPS-48E air search radar


Armament

  • Rolling Airframe Missile launchers (2)
  • Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile launchers (2)
  • 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts (2)
  • Twin .50 BMG machine guns (7)

 

USS Anchorage

The USS Anchorage is an amphibious transport dock which can carry one landing craft, two hovercraft, four Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 craft.
640px-USS_Anchorage_during_Orion_EFT-1_recovery_(141205-N-GO855-306)

  • Size: 684 ft (208.5 m)
  • Top Speed: 22 knots

Armament

  • 2 30 mm Bushmaster II cannons
  • 2 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers

 

Steregushchiy

640px-Corvette_Stoiky_in_SPB

  • Size: 343 ft (104.5 m)
  • Top Speed: 27 knots

Sensors / Processing Systems

  • Furke 2 – Furke-E / Positive ME1 – Air search radar
  • Surface search radar
  • Monument targeting radar
  • Fire control radar
  • Sonar
  • GORIZONT-25 integrated navigation system

Armament

  • Arsenal A-190 100 mm (1)
  • MTPU pedestal machine gun 14.5 mm (2)
  • Kashtan CIWS-M CADS (1) / 12 Redut VLS cells – project 20381 (12)
  • AK-630М CIWS (2)
  • 4 VL Kh-35 missiles (2)
  • 4 330 mm torpedo tubes (2) – Paket NK anti submarine; anti torpedo

 

Boikiy

The Boikiy is a small Russian battleship that is equipped to land a KA-27 helicopter. It is lighter than other ships and can get closer to the coast.
640px-Bojkij_-_2013-07-26_12-25-52

  • Size: 343 ft (104.5 m)
  • Top Speed: 27 knots

Sensors / Processing Systems

  • Furke 2 – Furke E / Positive ME1 – air search radar
  • SHAVE radar
  • Surface search radar
  • Monument targeting radar
  • Fire control radar
  • Zarya-M suite – Sonar
  • GORIZONT-25 integrated navigation system

Armament

  • Arsenal A-190 100 mm (1)
  • MTPU pedestal machine gun 14.5 mm (2)
  • Kashtan CIWS-M CADS (1) / Redut VLS cells – project 20381 (12)
  • AK-630М CIWS (2)
  • 4 VL Kh-35 missiles (2)
  • 4 330 mm torpedo tubes (2) – Paket NK anti submarine; anti torpedo

 

Landing Helicopter Dock Dixmude

The Landing Helicopter Dock Dixmude is the French Navy’s amphibious assault ship/helicopter carrier. It can carry 16 large helicopters, or up to 35 smaller ones. It can also hold a tank, 70 vehicles, and two barges. It has an onboard hospital and assists with peacekeeping and NATO operations.
640px-BPC_Dixmude

  • Size in Length: 652 ft (199 m)
  • Highest Speed: 18 knots

Armament

  • Missile Launcher Simbad twin launcher (2)
  • Naval Gun single 30 mm (2)

 

Forbin

The Forbin is a large frigate in the French Navy which protects larger ships from submarine attack, like air carriers and civilian ships. It is designed to appear smaller on radar.
640px-Forbin-090531-N-9988F-406

  • Size: 501 ft 7 in (152.87 m)
  • Top Speed: 29 knots

Armament

  • PAAMS (1) – 48  Aster 15 / 30 anti air missiles in SYLVER A50 VLS
  • Sadral launcher with 6 Mistral missiles (1) – anti air
  • Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti ship missiles (8) – anti ship
  • MU90 torpedo tubes (2) – anti submarine
  • Otobreda 76 mm super rapid guns
  • 20 mm model F2 gun

 

INS Makar

The INS Makar is the Indian Navy’s catamaran which can take surveys around the coasts and provide the Navy with more accurate charts. It can also be used for coastal defense and rescue missions.
640px-INS_Makar_-_2

  • Size: 174.4 ft (53.15 m)
  • Top Speed: 12 knots

Special Features

  • Hydrographic surveys
  • Marine environment information collection

 

Kunming

The Kunming is one of the Chinese Liberation Army’s 12 type 052D destroyers. It can carry one helicopter and is designed to stand up to terrorist attacks and pirate attacks.
PLA_Navy_Type_052D_Destroyer_172_Kunming(昆明)_just_before_official_induction_ceremony

  • Size: 511 feet (156 m)
  • Top Speed: 30 knots

Armament

  • H/PJ-38 130 mm dual purpose gun (1)
  • 64 VLS
  • CY-5 series ASW missiles
  • CJ 10 LACM
  • YJ 12 or YJ 83 anti ship missiles
  • HHQ 9 series long range SAM
  • DK-10A medium range SAM – can be quad packed
  • 30 mm remote controlled gun (2)
  • H/PJ 12 CIWS (1)
  • HHQ 10 short range SAM in 24 cell launcher (1)
  • Torpedo tubes (6)
  • 18 tube decoy rocket launcher (4)

 

Linyi

The Linyi is one of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s 24 Type 054A Frigates. It has multiple battleship roles and can carry Kamov ka 27 and a Harbin Z-9 helicopters in addition to other aircraft.
640px-thumbnail (1)

  • Size: 440 ft (134.1 m)
  • Top Speed: 27 knots

Armament

  • 32 cell VLS HQ 16 SAM / anti submarine rocket launcher (1)
  • 4 C-803 anti ship / land attack cruise missiles (2)
  • PJ26 76 mm dual purpose gun (1)
  • Type 730 7 barrel 30 mm CIWS guns (2)
  • 3 324 mm YU-7 ASW torpedo launchers (2)
  • 6 Type 87 240 mm anti submarine rocket launcher (2)
  • Type 726-4 18 tube decoy rocket launchers (2)

Humankind has been fighting naval battles for centuries. In the United States, the defense budget is currently hundreds of billions of dollars. Warfare is an enormous industry with advancements in navies and other military organizations happening every day. Many modern battleships look like they come from the future. Technology changes so fast that it’s hard to keep up with the newest, biggest, and most advanced naval warships and how they’re changing the face and future of naval warfare.
As the tactics and technology of war change and the governments of the world seek their advantage in making use of the best minds and resources available, battleships become more impressive.

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