The shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has reported that the destroyer USS Ted Stevens (DDG-128), part of the new Flight III variant of the Arleigh Burke class, has completed its second set of sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America). These evaluations, conducted in mid-October 2025, tested the ship’s propulsion, communication, navigation, and combat systems in coordination with U.S. Navy inspectors.
The Ted Stevens is the third Flight III destroyer to enter sea trials, following the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) and USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126). According to reports, the Jack H. Lucas reached initial operational capability in 2024, while the Louis H. Wilson Jr. successfully completed its first sea trials in September 2025.
Named in honor of the senator from Alaska, the USS Ted Stevens is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2026 and will join the Pacific surface fleet. Its incorporation strengthens the Navy’s strategy of maintaining a dominant maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where strategic competition with China continues to intensify.
During the trials, the Ted Stevens performed high-speed maneuvers, tight turns, anchor tests, and combat system verifications, including testing of the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR)—the main technological innovation of the Flight III design. This radar provides significantly enhanced detection and tracking capabilities against aerial and ballistic missile threats, solidifying the Arleigh Burke class as the core of the U.S. fleet’s air and missile defense.
With more than 70 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers currently in service, the class remains the backbone of the U.S. surface fleet. The arrival of the Flight III variant ensures the continued relevance of this proven design, adapted to meet the emerging threats of the 21st century.
Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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