
A top Navy official this week said the service intends to buy at least two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyers while developing the next large surface combatant ship, the DDG(X). Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, director of the Surface Warfare Division (OPNAV N96), said his first priority is delivering the Flight III DDG-51 ships on time, but his second highest priority is budgeting for two new large surface combatants per year. “My next priority is related to the first and…