The Zumwalt class is a shadow of what it was originally envisioned to be.

[Onkel Neal]

Looks like the US Navy is having trouble with their budget. Cannot fully fund the advanced weapons systems. No surprise, even a prosperous nation like USA must have some limits on how much they can spend for weapons and systems that will most likely never be used in anger. Look out, Iran, we need some fresh reasons to level up over here

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26531/navys-first-stealthy-zumwalt-class-destroyer-photographed-with-30mm-guns-fitted

We also have to stress that all of these cost reduction measures have a cumulative impact on the Zumwalt's ability to wage war and where they can do it. In fact, maybe the persistent degradation of the vessel's low observable design is a good metaphor as any for its overall combat capability. Each small change may not be damning in itself, but they add up over time to the point that one really has to ask what did the Navy buy here after spending tens of billions of dollars on the program? And most importantly, after spending all that money developing and building these ships, is spending a comparatively tiny amount more to get these vessels to perform as they were originally envisioned to really not worth it?