The U.S. Navy’s fleet of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers has grown in number and another warship is set to swell its ranks still further in the coming weeks.
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has announced that the future USS Ted Stevens has just successfully completed her final round of sea trials, meaning she will be ready to be handed over to the armed forces in the next few weeks.
The news comes hot on the heels of the U.S. Navy taking delivery of the future USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works halfway through November.
Talking about Ted Stevens, Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette commented: “Our shipbuilders take great pride in reaching this milestone, which stands as a testament to the teamwork and skill that define our destroyer program at Ingalls.”
The warship represents the second Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by the Mississippi yard; the latest generation of vessels feature the AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system.
To date, the Pascagoula facility has delivered no fewer than 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy, including the first Flight III, USS Jack H. Lucas. Four more Flight III destroyers are currently being built at the Ingalls yard: Jeremiah Denton; George M. Neal; Sam Nunn; and Thad Cochran.
Meanwhile, the U.S Navy had accepted delivery of future USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works on November 17.
Capt. Jay Young, Arleigh Burke-class programme manager at the Program Executive Office, Ships, commented: “The future USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. will deliver powerful capability to the fleet and enhance our maritime advantage.”
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works has a further seven Arleigh Burke-class destroyers at various stages of construction: Louis H. Wilson Jr.; Patrick Gallagher; William Charette; Quentin Walsh; John E. Kilmer; Richard G. Lugar; and J. William Middendorf.
- You can read more details on the HII website and the U.S. Navy website