On March 25, the American company Huntington Ingalls announced the launch of the third of the U.S. Navy’s new Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers, configured to the most advanced standard currently available for its class. Specifically, the ship will bear the name USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), honoring the former senator from Alabama and Vietnam War veteran, who was awarded the Navy Cross.
Regarding this, Ben Barnett, who currently serves as the DDG program manager at Ingalls Shipbuilding, stated: “The launch of DDG 129 is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Ingalls shipbuilders and a collaborative achievement with our Navy partners. The future USS Jeremiah Denton will now undergo final outfitting, system activation, and testing before joining the fleet.”
Reviewing some details shared by the company about the launch, it is worth noting that the ship was transported by railcars from land to the shipyard’s dry dock, where it was floated and then moved to a pier with the assistance of tugboats. At this location, it will undergo the various testing phases described by Barnett, which must be successfully completed before the vessel can be commissioned. It is also worth remembering that these tests must also be passed by the other four Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers currently under construction by the company, namely: USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128), USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), USS Sam Nunn (DDG 133), and USS Thad Cochran (DDG 135).
Finally, regarding the features that distinguish the Flight III variant of the destroyer, key upgrades compared to previous versions include the integration of the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the new Aegis Baseline 10 combat system. Additionally, these units are equipped with an upgraded power generation and cooling system, which not only supports the operation of these radars but also paves the way for the installation of new directed-energy weapons.
In terms of dimensions, each vessel measures approximately 155 meters in length and 20 meters in beam, displacing 9,300 tons, with enough space for the 350 crew members required to operate it. It is also worth mentioning that a destroyer of this class is powered by four gas turbine engines, enabling it to reach speeds of up to 30 knots. Regarding its weaponry, notable systems include two MK 41 vertical launch systems, a 5-inch main gun turret, and Mk 32 torpedo launchers as its main assets.
Image credits: Huntington Ingalls.
