Ingalls Shipbuilding has launched a Ted Stevens-class Arleigh Burke Flight III guided missile destroyer for the US Navy

Ingalls Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), has announced the launch of the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Flight III modification. It is named Ted Stevens (DDG 128).

Here's What We Know

The destroyer is named in honour of Alaska State Senator Ted Stevens, who was a pilot during World War II. It is the 76th ship of the Arleigh Burke class and the third in the Flight III modification.

Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131) and Sam Nunn (DDG 133) are now in various stages of construction. The first ship in the Flight III modification is called Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125). It was delivered to the U.S. Navy in early summer 2023. Ingalls built a total of 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The Flight III modification brought several design modifications aimed at improving the ships' capabilities. In particular, DDG 125 received the AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defence radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system.

According to public records, Ted Stevens (DDG 128) has two Mk 41 vertical launch systems with 32 and 64 cells. The destroyer will be able to launch RIM-66M, RIM-156, RIM-174A, RIM-161, RIM-162, RUM-139 and Tomahawk missiles.

Source: Naval News