by Jack Long

On 14 September 2016, the USS Zumwalt, the most advanced warship the Navy has ever produced, arrived at Norfolk.

The USS Zumwalt, being easily identifiable visually by its angular tower, sharp edges, and inward-angled sides, has the advantage of being nearly invisible to enemy radar. The ship is 610 feet long and 80.7 feet wide, it’s nearly 100 feet longer and 13 feet wider than its Navy brothers. It’s fitted with an Integrated Power System or IPS, which produces 78 megawatts, nearly what a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier generates.

At $3.8 billion, it’s the most expensive destroyer ever built; however, the Navy estimates that in its lifetime the Zumwalt will end up saving money with crew numbers alone; an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the previous model, is typically run by 147 crew members, whereas the Zumwalt will only require about half of that crew size.

The Zumwalt will be docked in its homeport of San Diego after going through vigorous training both of crew and vessel. If the ship passes its certifications and operational proficiency training, it will be commissioned on 15 October 2016 during Fleet Week in Baltimore, Maryland.