The US Navy has taken delivery of the 78th Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128), from HII Ingalls Shipbuilding.
Serving as the vessel’s official transfer from the company into service, the event followed a series of dock and sea-based trials to validate the platform’s effectiveness and overall capabilities prior to deployment.
The Ted Stevens is the third system under the Arleigh Burke series to incorporate the Flight III configuration centered on the AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system for countering modern threats.
It is named after an Alaskan politician who was the longest-serving Republican senator in American history.
“The delivery of Ted Stevens reflects the strong momentum of our destroyer program as we accelerate Flight III production and bring enhanced capabilities to the fleet,” said Brian Blanchette, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding.
“We are honored to deliver DDG 128 to the Navy knowing that it will stand as a powerful asset in strengthening US maritime security for decades to come.”
Currently, HII is working on seven additional vessels at different stages of development under the Arleigh Burke program.
Including the Ted Stevens, the company has delivered 36 ships for the effort.
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke System
Hii’s Arleigh Burke design has a hull measuring 505 to 510 feet (154 to 155 meters) long, depending on its flight version.
The ship is powered by three Allison T56 generators to support a maximum speed of 30 knots (35 miles/56 kilometers per hour) and a range of 4,400 nautical miles (5,063 miles/8,149 kilometers).
For firepower, the vessel is equipped with light and heavy machine guns, torpedoes, missiles, naval artillery, decoy countermeasures, and electronic warfare solutions.
Each Aerligh Burke has a capacity for approximately 300 personnel, a naval helicopter, and small rigid-hull inflatable boats.
