US Navy to Decommission All Ticonderoga-Class Cruisers by 2027: Complete Schedule

 The U.S. Navy has scheduled the decommissioning of its remaining 13 Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers, with all expected to be retired by the end of 2027. The first to go will be the USS Vicksburg (CG 69) in June 2024, followed by the USS Cowpens (CG 63) in August, and the USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) in September. The last cruisers to be decommissioned will likely be the USS Chosin (CG 65) and USS Cape St. George (CG 71) in fiscal year 2027. This will mark the end of the service life for the Ticonderoga-class, the world's first cruisers equipped with the Aegis combat system.

The Vicksburg and Cowpens were among the seven cruisers included in the Navy’s Cruiser Modernization Program in the mid-2010s. However, their extensive modernization efforts, which have nearly reached a cost of one billion dollars, were never completed. Despite Congressional directives, the Navy ceased further work on these ships in early 2024 and added them to the decommissioning list. Of the seven ships in the modernization program, only the Gettysburg and Chosin have been redelivered, with ongoing work on the Cape St. George. Two other ships, the Hue City (CG 66) and Anzio (CG 68), were decommissioned in 2022 in poor condition.

The decommissioning dates, while subject to change, are unlikely to be altered significantly. All ships are set to become Logistical Support Assets, serving as sources for spare parts before eventually being scrapped or used in sinking exercises (SINKEXs). The cruisers are being retired around the end of their 35-year service lives and will be replaced by the new Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, of which only one is currently in service.

Below is the decommissioning schedule for the remaining Ticonderoga-class cruisers:

1. USS Vicksburg (CG 69): June 29, 2024

   • Last deployed in 2015; modernization halted in early 2024.

2. USS Cowpens (CG 63): August 30, 2024

   • Last deployed in 2014; modernization halted in early February 2024.

3. USS Antietam (CG 54): September 27, 2024

   • Recently transferred from Japan to Pearl Harbor.

4. USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55): September 27, 2024

   • Recently completed a U.S. Fourth Fleet deployment.

5. USS Philippine Sea (CG 58): Fiscal 2025

   • Currently deployed as the air warfare commander for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

6. USS Normandy (CG 60): Fiscal 2025

   • Recently returned from a deployment with the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

7. USS Shiloh (CG 67): Fiscal 2025

   • Recently transferred from Japan to Pearl Harbor.

8. USS Lake Erie (CG 70): Fiscal 2025

   • Deployed with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Carrier Strike Group.

9. USS Princeton (CG 59): Fiscal 2026

   • Recently returned from deployment with the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

10. USS Robert Smalls (CG 62): Fiscal 2026

    • Deployed with the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); renamed from USS Chancellorsville.

11. USS Gettysburg (CG 64): Fiscal 2026

    • First ship to complete the Cruiser Modernization Program.

12. USS Chosin (CG 65): Fiscal 2027

    • Recently completed the Cruiser Modernization Program.

13. USS Cape St. George (CG 71): Fiscal 2027

    • Still undergoing modernization work.

Previously decommissioned Ticonderoga-class cruisers include:

• USS Ticonderoga (CG 47)
• USS Yorktown (CG 48)
• USS Vincennes (CG 49)
• USS Valley Forge (CG 50)
• USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51)
• USS Bunker Hill (CG 52)
• USS Mobile Bay (CG 53)
• USS San Jacinto (CG 56)
• USS Lake Champlain (CG 57)
• USS Monterey (CG 61)
• USS Hue City (CG 66)
• USS Anzio (CG 68)
• USS Vella Gulf (CG 72)
• USS Port Royal (CG 73)

Taiwan Revives Advanced Frigate Program for Enhanced Defense in Taiwan Strait

 

Taiwan's military has decided to revive its "New Generation Frigate" program, driven by the defense needs of the Taiwan Strait. This decision was reported by local media LTN on May 25, 2024, citing a high-level government official. The new frigates are expected to have a displacement of 6,000 tons and will feature U.S.-made AN/SPY-7 active phased array radar. The official mentioned that the Taiwanese navy initially aimed to develop a 4,500-ton vessel with capabilities comparable to larger ships, but this proved overly optimistic.

According to another local source, UP MEDIA, the navy realized that a 4,500-ton vessel could not accommodate all the necessary weapon systems and equipment for modern warfare, including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine operations. The New Generation Frigate program was originally part of a 12-item force building plan announced by the Republic of China (ROC) Navy in 2016. At the 2017 TADTE defense exhibition, a scale model of the frigate was displayed, highlighting its enhanced joint operational capabilities and resilience against heavy attacks. However, there was confusion regarding whether the frigate would feature the Aegis Combat System, as the term was used inconsistently in various descriptions.

The U.S. has not confirmed if it will sell the Aegis Combat System to Taiwan, and the Taiwanese navy’s definition of “Aegis” remains unclear. For instance, in a 2018 parliamentary session, a deputy head of NCSIST explained that an “Aegis ship” refers to a warship equipped with an electronic scanning array (ESA).