1
For more on the Navy’s role in ballistic missile defense, see CRS Report RL33745, Sea-Based
Ballistic Missile Defense — Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke.
2
For more on the Navy’s 313-ship plan, see CRS Report RL32665, Navy Force Structure and
Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke.
Order Code RS22559
Updated June 13, 2007
Navy CG(X) Cruiser Design Options:
Background and Oversight Issues for
Congress
Ronald O’Rourke
Specialist in National Defense
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
The Navy would like to use the design of its new DDG-1000 destroyer as the basis
for its planned CG(X) cruiser. Ships based on other hull designs are possible. Nuclear
propulsion is an option being studied for the CG(X). For a more general discussion of
both the CG(X) and DDG-1000, see CRS Report RL32109, Navy DDG-1000 (DD(X))
and CG(X) Ship Acquisition Programs: Oversight Issues and Options for Congress, by
Ronald O’Rourke. This report on basic CG(X) design options will be updated as events
warrant.
Background
CG(X) Cruiser Program. The CG(X) cruiser is the Navy’s planned replacement
for its 22 existing Ticonderoga (CG-47) class Aegis-equipped cruisers, which are
projected to reach retirement age between 2021 and 2029. The CG-47s are multimission
ships with an emphasis on air defense. The Navy wants the CG(X) to be a multimission
ship with an emphasis on air defense and ballistic missile defense (BMD).
1
The Navy
plans to equip the CG(X) with a large and powerful new radar capable of supporting
BMD operations. The CG(X) may also have more missile-launch tubes than are on the
DDG-1000, and one 155mm Advanced Gun System (AGS), or none, as opposed to two
AGSs on the DDG-1000. The Navy’s planned 313-ship fleet calls for a total of 19
CG(X)s.
2
The FY2008-FY2013 Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) calls for procuring
the first CG(X) in FY2011 and the second in FY2013. The Navy’s 30-year (FY2008-
FY2037) shipbuilding plan calls for building 17 more CG(X)s between FY2014 and
FY2023, including two CG(X)s per year for the seven-year period FY2015-FY2021.
