US Navy Replaces Touchscreen Ship Controls With Physical Throttles
The US Navy plans to remove complex touchscreen controls from its destroyers and replace them with conventional physical throttles. This change follows an investigation that linked a confusing touch interface to the fatal 2017 USS John S. McCain collision.
The US Navy abandons touchscreen controls on its destroyers and reverts to conventional physical throttles and helm controls over the next 18 to 24 months. This decision follows a fleet investigation into the fatal 2017 USS John S. McCain collision, which reveals that the warship's complex touchscreen interface and poor training directly contribute to the crash.
The transition affects all DDG-51 class Arleigh Burke ships that use the Integrated Bridge and Navigation System. The USS Ramage becomes the first in-service vessel to receive the physical controls in summer 2020, while the newly built USS Ted Stevens launches without touchscreens. Navy leaders explain that the military adopts the touchscreens without realizing the system is overly complex for sailors to operate effectively.
The Navy emphasizes that this change reflects a "just because you can doesn't mean you should" philosophy rather than a complete rejection of modern technology. Officials state that future bridge interfaces must offer consistency across ships and allow crews to quickly understand their situation, ensuring that warship controls remain highly intuitive in high-stakes environments.