The US Navy has announced significant upgrades to three Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers, aimed at extending their operational lifespan by an additional ten years, with service now projected to continue until between 2026 and 2029. This move, disclosed by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, aims to bolster the capabilities of the American surface fleet as both the military and its industry partners work towards developing more advanced naval platforms.
The selected cruisers for modernization include the USS Gettysburg (CG 64), USS Chosin (CG 65), and USS Cape St. George (CG 71), all of which were originally constructed in the 1980s. The upgrades encompass a wide range of enhancements to the cruisers’ external components, mechanical systems, engineering solutions, and combat systems. The Navy confirmed that the modernization process for the first two ships was completed in 2023 and 2024, while the final vessel is slated for completion by the end of this year.
Reflecting on the importance of these warships, Del Toro remarked, “As a former cruiser Sailor, I know the incredible value these highly-capable warships bring to the Fleet, and I am proud of their many decades of service.” He emphasized the lessons learned from prior modernization efforts, underscoring that only those ships which have completed their upgrades and demonstrated the necessary material readiness will be extended as part of the Navy’s mission.
A notable aspect of the USS Chosin’s modernization includes its participation in a demonstration last October, which tested the Navy’s “Transferrable Reload At-Sea Mechanism.” This innovative system allows missile canisters to be transferred between a replenishment ship and a combat vessel while both are afloat in the open ocean. For this exercise, the USS Chosin operated alongside the Military Sealift Command’s USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) dry cargo ship, which utilized a hydraulically-powered device to effectively load the cruiser’s vertical launching system. The drill culminated in a successful “transformational logistics” operation, demonstrating how a warship can be rearmed without the need to dock at a port.
The Ticonderoga upgrades align with a broader initiative that also commenced earlier this month, which aims to revitalize 12 first-generation Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers that were commissioned in the 1990s. Once the necessary enhancements are implemented, these destroyers are expected to remain in service from 2028 to 2035, further solidifying the Navy’s strategic maritime capabilities as it transitions to more sophisticated assets.
