USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is scheduled to be the lead ship of the U.S. Navy's DD(X) guided missile destroyer program and the first ship to be named for Admiral Elmo Zumwalt. DDG-1000 continues the original DD sequence begun in 1902 with USS Bainbridge (DD-1), skipping DD-998 and -999.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2007, with delivery slated for 2012.
In 2006, Congress cut the DD(X) program to two ships, but did not rule out a larger production run if the new ships are successful. The program might also foster a less expensive class of destroyers, just as the large, expensive and powerful Seawolf class submarine led to the development of the smaller Virginia class submarines.