Navy to modernize aging Aegis cruisers; conversion program will extend the ships' operational life to 35 years.

• Author: Lundquist, Edward H.
• Position: Commentary

The U.S. Navy will upgrade 22 of its 27 Aegis cruisers (CG-52 through CG-73), in an effort to keep these ships combat-relevant until a new generation of surface warships can be designed and built.

The cruiser conversion program will extend the service life of each ship to 35 years through major combat systems upgrades and selective service life modernization, according to Cmdr. Jerry Hamel, a requirements officer on the Navy staff.

The conversion effort will enable the CG-47 class to participate in land attack, littoral undersea warfare, force protection and anti-air defense missions, including ballistic missile defense.

"We have to add new capabilities," said Hamel. "At the same time, we have to reduce crew size and maintenance requirements."

Cruiser conversion will affect CG-47 Baseline 2, 3 and 4 ships. The first five ships in the class, known as Baseline 1, will not receive the conversion. USS Ticonderoga, the lead ship of the class, is now 20 years old and will be decommissioned next year. USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51) was commissioned in 1987. The first five ships of the class did not receive the vertical-launch system upgrade. The Navy plans to retire Baseline 1 in fiscal year 2006.

The first ship scheduled to undergo cruiser conversion is the USS Cape St. George (CG-71), with the work commencing in fiscal year 2006. The final ship will begin conversion in 2014.

The various upgrades to the cruisers are designed to enhance the combat capabilities gradually throughout their service lives. "Our analysis was modeled to pace the threat through 2025," said Cmdr. Dave Matawitz, branch head for current ships in the Navy's Surface Warfare directorate.

Cruiser conversion will provide both a computing technology and force structure bridge to future ships, Matawitz said.

There are varying capabilities between Baselines 2, 3 and 4. The cruiser conversion program will result in all 22 ships having a common baseline.

The core components of the combat systems cruiser conversion include:

* The Aegis Baseline 7 Phase 1C computer program.

* The Q-70 console installation for enhanced radar and computer displays.

* The Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC).

* Vertical Launch System (VLS) design modifications to support current and future missile capabilities including Standard missile SM-2 variants.

* Evolved Sea Sparrow (ESSM) for improved capability against low altitude supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles.

* Vertical launch antisubmarine rocket (VLA)...