I'm writing this description in a journalism style:
The Navy announced today the launching of the Shield, first of the new Scutum class destroyer as part of the Navy's 80 plan.
The new guided missile destroyer is built around the new joint Army Navy Guardian Air Defense System. The GADS utilizes a phased radar array coupled to a computer system, which according to defense sources, enables the system to track over 50 targets simultaneously. The Scutum class is planned to provide long distance ant-air and anti-missile defense for task forces and convoys.
In order to save costs in a program already well over budget, the ship is equipped with a navalised version of the Army's GLGM-110 Arrow missile, by mounting the launch boxes in the deck. There has been some criticism in defense circles that the Navy rushed the navalisation, one source complaining, "Just sticking the Army's launcher in a ships deck isn't going to work."
A Navy spokesman reiterated the Navy's position that the system is not, "just stuck in the deck, but placed in special mountings, and has been throughly tested." The spokesman refused to comment on what kind to testing the system was put through.
Like most Navy ships the Scutum class also carries the successful Trident anti-ship missile.
The Shield is the latest part of the Navy's "80" modernization plan. The first part is the new Veles class frigate already in service. The Veles has two variants, an anti-air, and an anti-sub version. Due to delays in the GADS system the anti-air variant was redesigned to use the Navy's older Green Dart missile in order to launch the class on time. The later is equipped with the Kingfisher anti-submarine missile, which has also garnered criticism.
The Kingfisher is designed to carry a modified Mk8 heavy torpedo up to 30 miles, then like a bomber, drop the torpedo on submarine contact, where the torpedo will then chase the target. Critics charge that the system is too expensive, too heavy, and redundant given that the ships carry helicopters which can do the same job much better.
Others have charged that the entire system has been built to placate certain members of government representing districts where the Kingfisher is built.
The Navy stated that any problems encountered can be fixed, and stressed the need to replace much of our rapidly aging fleet.
![[ img ]](http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l557/josephw71/Ships/ScutumClassUP.png)
![[ img ]](http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l557/josephw71/Ships/VelesClassaawUP.png)
![[ img ]](http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l557/josephw71/Ships/VelesClassaswUP.png)
thanks to H.Heuser for the very cool ships guns.