Armed Forces News

The Navy will take delivery of the first of its Zumwalt-class destroyers in September — five years later than its original anticipated date. Bloomberg.com reported March 27 that the ships have been beset with construction and labor issues, as well as gun systems that do not work properly. Under the $23 billion program, the initial Zumwalt destroyer would not be ready for combat missions until 2021, “at least three years later than planned,” Bloomberg reported. The longer delivery of Zumwalt ships is delayed, the more expensive the program gets. The price tag will rise by $160 million next year alone, according to the report.