USS Zumwalt completes acceptance trials

TEWKSBURY, Mass., June 17 (UPI) -- The USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) has passed its acceptance trials, the ship's electronics developer Raytheon announced Friday.

Raytheon is the prime mission-systems equipment integrator for the Zumwalt-class destroyer program.

Key ship capabilities, including the Raytheon-developed comprehensive Total Ship Computing Environments, were tested as part of the trials, the company said in a statement.

Systems performed well throughout two periods at sea, culminating in the ship's acceptance by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey.

While underway for the builder's trial, the onboard Raytheon team also conducted 20 hours of training with members of the pre-commissioning crew.

"We're seeing the years of design, development and testing come to life," Raytheon's DDG 1000 program ship integration and test director Pat O'Kane said.

In addition to the Total Ship Computing Environment operating well, the engineering control systems, integrated bridge, navigation and electro-optic surveillance systems also performed well in trials.

The ship will sail to Baltimore for its commissioning in October, Raytheon said, and will then head to its home port in San Diego for mission systems activation commencement.

The Total Ship Computing Environment is a single, encrypted network that controls all shipboard computing applications, from the ship's lights to its radars and weapons systems, Raytheon said.

The ship also features electronic modular enclosures, integrated undersea warfare systems and a MK57 vertical launching system.

The next ship in the class, the USS Michael Monsoor, will be christened Saturday at Bath Iron Works in Maine, Raytheon said.