One of two operating Zumwalt Destroyer will need to have a main turbine engine replaced.
They completed acceptance trials in February, and the Navy accepted partial delivery of the ship in April.
It is taking over six months to replace the engine because a special rail system is needed to remove the engine and put in a new one. The system to enable engine replacement had not been designed when the Navy realized it needed one. Engineers had to finish the design and then install the system.
The Rolls-Royce MT30 engine costs $20-million.
The US will build a total of 3 Zumwalt destroyers for about $22.5 billion. The third one is being finished now and will start sea trials in 2019. On average the Zumwalt destroyers cost $7.5 billion.
Brian Wang is a prolific business-oriented writer of emerging and disruptive technologies. He is known for insightful articles that combine business and technical analysis that catches the attention of the general public and is also useful for those in the industries. He is the sole author and writer of nextbigfuture.com, the top online science blog. He is also involved in angel investing and raising funds for breakthrough technology startup companies.
He gave the recent keynote presentation at Monte Jade event with a talk entitled the Future for You. He gave an annual update on molecular nanotechnology at Singularity University on nanotechnology, gave a TEDX talk on energy, and advises USC ASTE 527 (advanced space projects program). He has been interviewed for radio, professional organizations. podcasts and corporate events. He was recently interviewed by the radio program Steel on Steel on satellites and high altitude balloons that will track all movement in many parts of the USA.
He fundraises for various high impact technology companies and has worked in computer technology, insurance, healthcare and with corporate finance.
He has substantial familiarity with a broad range of breakthrough technologies like age reversal and antiaging, quantum computers, artificial intelligence, ocean tech, agtech, nuclear fission, advanced nuclear fission, space propulsion, satellites, imaging, molecular nanotechnology, biotechnology, medicine, blockchain, crypto and many other areas.