Supposedly the newer Burkes will eventually be refitted with the RIM-116 RAM SAM on the old Phalanx pedastals. While RAM does look pretty decent for a budget Point defence SAM (not too bad of a system, but lets not ignore the fact that it was made from the parts bin of other SAMs, namly the Sidewinder and Stinger, and AFAIK its deployment to mainline fighting ships like CVs, DDGs, and CGs has been slowed greatly, this may just be budgetary) Personally I think that the CIWS is the best bet for missile supression. Didn't they have somthing called the Mellenium gun under developement? I think it was supposed to be the next generation CIWS. As far as Harpoon capabuility goes for the Flight II Burkes, they don't have it but I think there are provisions for it to be mounted ontop of the hangar, but then again, this may provide blind spot for the radar. I would say within the next 8-15 years that the USA is going to come out with a new family of ASM. There are already feasabuility studies for what the Mk 41 VLS can hold, and while Harpoon may be an effective system, it is growing a bit long in the tooth, especially now that supersonic missiles are becoming trendy.
__________________
|