
The deputy chief of naval operations for warfare systems said on Thursday that the Navy is now planning to extend the life of all of its Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) guided-missile destroyers, allowing it to reach 355 ships by the 2030s.Vice Adm. William Merz said this extension includes the older, Flight 1 model ships. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) recently completed an analysis of the destroyers that found they can extend the entire class to reach 45 operational years each.The Navy…