US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers face maintenance crisis

The United States Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer fleet is facing a maintenance crisis driven by prolonged operations in the Middle East. According to reports from Military Watch, the continuous offensive against Iran has placed significant strain on both personnel and vessel resources.

Data indicates that the average age of the Arleigh Burke fleet has risen from approximately 10 years in 2011 to 20 years in 2024. While newer vessels are entering service, the majority of the fleet consists of older ships requiring increasingly extensive upkeep. General repairs for these destroyers are currently taking 26% longer than planned and require 8% more labor.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the competitive edge of the U.S. fleet compared to China and North Korea. The slow pace of U.S. destroyer production is being outpaced by China, specifically regarding its Type 052D and Type 055 vessels, which feature more modern hulls and advanced vertical launch systems.