12 Of The Most Powerful Navy Destroyers In The World

While the massive aircraft carriers and mysterious submarines of powerful military countries tend to get the most media attention, the often-overlooked destroyer plays an essential role in modern naval operations. The warship, once referred to as a "torpedo boat destroyer," was a fast, maneuverable vessel that primarily provided escort services for larger ships during World War II. In recent years its duties have expanded. Although some are focused on a single type of warfare, most of the top destroyers are equipped as multi-mission surface combatants capable of Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW).

Modern destroyers have advanced sensors and radars to detect enemies at a long range. The destroyers currently in service in navies around the world today typically have a displacement of 6,000 to 12,000 tons and are equipped with guns as well as long-range missiles to targets at sea, on land, and in the air. These well-equipped vessels can then can operate as a part of a larger battle group or independently.

Many of the top destroyers in the world use similar technology. The American Aegis Weapon System (AWS) combined with the SPY-1 Radar and multi-cell MK-41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) offer excellent flexibility, upgradability, and scalability, keeping today's destroyers relevant and adaptable to future combat requirements. Several Japanese and South Korean vessels have incorporated the U.S. destroyer technology placing them among the best in the world and facilitating cooperative joint naval operations with the U.S. Here are 12 of the most powerful navy destroyers in the world today.

Sejong the Great class destroyers are designed and built with exceptional technology typical of many South Korean products and are regarded by many to be among the most powerful destroyers in the world. These warships are perhaps best distinguished by their unparalleled stealth technology, carefully designed to minimize radar cross-section and infrared signatures.

Measuring 165 meters long with a beam of 21 meters and a draft of 6 meters, the destroyer has a full load displacement of 10,000 tons making it one of the world's largest destroyers. The ship is powered by a combined gas and gas turbine (COGAG) propulsion system that sends 75 MW of power to two shafts and two controllable pitch propellers, resulting in a top speed of over 30 knots. The Republic of Korea Navy operates three Sejong the Great class destroyers.

Like the Arleigh Burke design, the Sejong the Great class destroyers use the Lockheed Aegis weapon system which includes SPY-1 radar, the MK 99 fire control system, and the MK-41 vertical launching system. The system tracks multiple targets such as aircraft or missiles and responds to these threats. The destroyer is also equipped with the Goalkeeper close-in weapon system (CIWS), anti-submarine rockets, and torpedoes. The massive destroyer can carry two Super Lynx or SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. It also packs more firepower than other dominant destroyers, with 128 missiles compared to 96 missiles on the Arleigh Burke class.

[Featured image by U.S. Navy via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA Public Domain]

The Kolkata class destroyers play a key role in India's navy as a deterrent to potentially aggressive adversaries. These destroyers were designed and constructed using state-of-the-art components from sources all over the world. With a displacement of 7,500 tons, the destroyer measures 534 feet long. A combined gas and gas propulsion system employs four Zorya DT-59 gas turbines and two KVM-diesel engines powering the ship to a top speed of 30 knots. The Kolkata class destroyer has a range of 6,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

The strength of the Kolkata class destroyer's offensive capability can be attributed to its Vertical Launch System, a shipborne missile canister capable of rapid-fire deployment of long-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and land-attack cruise missiles. The weaponry includes the BrahMos supersonic missile, the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.5 to Mach 2.8. 

The destroyer's defense features the MF-STAR multi-function radar for surface and air search, tracking, missile guidance, and gunnery. A Thales LW-08 2D radar provides long-range surveillance. The Barak 8 surface-to-air missile system defends against aerial threats, such as aircraft, helicopters, and incoming missiles. The system is capable of intercepting high-altitude targets as well as supersonic sea-skimming anti-ship missiles.

[Featured image by U.S. Navy via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | Public Domain]

Japan's fleet of ships includes four Kongo class destroyers featuring the Aegis Weapon System (AWS), a centralized, automated, command-and-control system that is often classified as the best in the world. The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyer uses the same combat system. Although the Kongo class ships lack the latest technology found in Japan's top-of-the-line Atago class destroyers, they are still some of the most powerful in the world.

Slightly shorter than the 165 meter JMSDF Atago class destroyers, the Kongo class measures 161 meters and displaces 7,500 tons standard and 9,500 tons with a full load. Power is provided by a combined gas and gas propulsion system composed of four Ishikawajima-Harima LM2500 gas turbines sending 75MW to two shafts that propel it to a top speed of 30 knots.

The Kongo class is equipped with three principal radar systems: the SPY-1D air search, the OPS-28 surface search, and a missile director radar. The destroyer is fitted with the MK-41 vertical-launching system that can carry 90 RIM-66 SM-2MR block II surface-to-air missiles. The weapons array also includes RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, two Type 68 triple torpedo tubes that can launch six MK46 or Type 73 torpedoes, and a 127mm 54-caliber Oto-Breda compact gun that fires 40 rounds per minute.

[Featured image by James G. McCarter via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | Public Domain]

BAE Systems Surface Ships built the Type 45 — also known as Daring class destroyers — for the British Royal Navy. The first ship, HMS Daring, was commissioned in July 2009. They are the largest and most advanced guided-missile destroyers in the Royal Navy fleet. Measuring 152 meters long with a beam of 21 meters and a draft of 7 meters, the destroyer displaces 8,500 tons with a full load. The ship uses an Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system that sends power to two shafts for a top speed of more than 32 knots.

The Daring class destroyers are armed with a vertical launch system capable of firing 48 Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles. The ship was originally equipped with eight inclined tube launchers for Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Two 30 mm cannons are used mainly when encountering small craft, and a BAE Mark 8 gun is employed when engaging surface targets and for shore assaults during amphibious landings.

Defensive sensors feature the Sampson multi-function radar. The two-faced rotating radar is enclosed in a spherical radome and uses adaptive digital beamforming techniques to negate clutter and combat high electronic countermeasure environments. Although the Type 45 destroyers could have been built as multirole platforms the Royal Navy chose to create a single-role warship with anti-air capability only.

Four ships make up the Kee Lung class (formerly called the Kidd class) of destroyers. While currently in the service with the Taiwanese Navy, the ships were originally built for Iran. The U.S. Navy acquired the destroyers after the contract with Iran was canceled and subsequently sold them to Taiwan in 2001. The $732 million purchase included equipment enhancements, overhaul of some systems, activation, and crew training.

Measuring 172 meters long, the Kee Lung class destroyer displaces 6,950 tons standard and can accommodate 363 marines. The ship is powered by a gas turbine propulsion system with four LM-2500 marine gas turbines producing 80,000 hp that drive two shafts with reversible pitch propellers. The system pushes the destroyer to a maximum speed exceeding 30 knots. The destroyers are designed for anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare, and to support amphibious landing exercises. They are also fitted with advanced air intake and filtration systems designed to manage the excessive dust and sand of the Persian Gulf waters.

The Kee Lung class weaponry features two 127mm guns, two close-in weapon systems, two MK26 launchers firing RIM-66 surface-to-air missiles, and two MK141 quadruple canisters for Harpoon long-range anti-ship missiles. The armament also includes two Mark 32, 324mm triple torpedo tubes that launch MK46 torpedoes capable of engaging submarines within a range of 11 km. The flight deck hosts two medium-lift helicopters equipped for anti-submarine warfare in an enclosed hangar.

[Featured image by ROCN via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | Public Domian]

The Udaloy class destroyer is the go-to warship of the Russian navy. Built under the control of the collapsed Soviet Union beginning in July 1977, 13 were completed and still provide versatile and reliable support for long-range operations despite their age. Designed as large anti-submarine combatants, the Udaloy class destroyers compare well in size to the U.S. Spruance class ships.

Measuring 163 meters long with a beam of 19 meters, the warship displaces about 7,000 tons standard. The ship is powered by a combined gas and gas (COGAG) propulsion system consisting of two M62 cruise gas turbines and two M8KF boost gas turbines. This helps Udaloy destroyers reach a top speed of 28 knots.

While the Udaloy class destroyers are not identically equipped, the sensors and weapons are specialized for anti-submarine warfare. The ships are fitted with an MGK-355 Polinom sonar suite, although the Udaloy II class uses the more modern Zvezda M-2 sonar system. Anti-submarine weaponry also features two torpedo tubes and depth charges are fired from two RBU-6000 12-round ASW rocket launchers. The Russian navy has recently undergone a modernization program to add better anti-ship weapons, including anti-ship missiles. The new Tsirkon hypersonic missile may be part of future upgrades.

[Featured image by Jason R. Zalasky via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | Public Domain]