Huntington Ingalls Begins Construction of US Navy’s Ted Stevens Destroyer

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has commenced construction of the US Navy’s next Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, Ted Stevens (DDG 128).

“HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division officially started fabrication of the Arleigh Burke¬-class (DDG 51) destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128) on Monday. The start of fabrication signifies the first 100 tons of steel have been cut,” the company said in a statement Wednesday.

Ingalls has delivered 31 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction include Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Frank E. Peterson Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) and Jack H. Lucas (DDG125).

Arleigh Burke-class can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. The guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains both offensive and defensive weapons. The warship has been built in the Flight IIA configuration for faster reaction time, higher firepower, and improved electronic warfare capabilities.