Armament:
All of the Arleigh Burke destroyers are equipped with two Mk 41 VLS launchers (one launcher forward of the superstructure, and one launcher located aft) with a total of 90 missiles available. Missile loadout is variable, depending on mission requirements, but may include any number of the following: RIM-67 SM-2 standard missile, BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile, and RUM-139 ASROC anti submarine rocket. In the Flight IIA destroyers VLS missile capacity is increased to 96 missiles. The Flight I and II ships carry eight RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, mounted in twin quad launch canisters on the stern of the ship (these launchers were removed in the Flight IIA ships to accommodate the embarked helicopters. In addition, all Arleigh Burke destroyers are equipped with one Mk 45 5?/54 caliber lightweight gun system (beginning with the USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG81) the gun is upgraded to a Mk 45 mod 3 5?/62 caliber lightweight gun system) mounted forward of the bow VLS, as well as two Mk 15 mod 2 Phalanx CIWS anti-missile systems and two triple Mk 32 mod 14 324mm torpedo tubes capable of launching either the Mk 46 mod 5 or the Mk 50 ASW torpedoes. For ships defense, all Arleigh Burke destroyers are equipped with two Mk 38 25mm Bushmaster guns as well as four M2 .50 caliber machine guns.
