The U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke Destroyer: Success, and Insurance Policy (From The National Interest)

The Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 guided missile destroyer is the most capable surface ship in the U.S. Navy and is the workhorse of the fleet. Today, sixty-two of them roam the oceans, giving meaning to American “command of the seas” and to the multi-decade Pax Americana that operates so seamlessly we mostly take it for granted. These ships are the go-to capability when it comes to showing the flag and asserting U.S. rights under international law. With its powerful suite of offensive and defensive weapons systems, the Arleigh Burke is a true multi-mission ship, capable of performing anti-submarine, air defense, missile defense, and land/sea-attack missions. I have written more on this subject here.