HII Ingalls Shipbuilding has successfully launched the US Navy’s third Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, designated as the future USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). This significant milestone marks another step forward in the expansion and modernization of the US Navy’s surface fleet.
The launch process involved transporting DDG 129 via railcars from land to a dry dock. Once at the dry dock, the vessel was floated and subsequently guided to the shipyard pier, where it will undergo final outfitting, systems activation, and testing to prepare for its future responsibilities. Ben Barnett, the DDG Program Manager at Ingalls Shipbuilding, expressed pride in the accomplishment, highlighting the dedication and collective effort of the shipbuilders and Navy partners involved in the project.
The USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) is named in honor of Jeremiah Denton Jr., a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery as a prisoner of war. Following his military service, he continued to serve the nation as a US Senator from Alabama, having been elected in 1980.
The Flight III variant of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers represents a significant advancement in naval capabilities. The US Navy has placed orders for several of these advanced surface combatants, including those identified as DDG 125, DDG 126, DDG 128, and beyond. Notably, the USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127) was omitted from this sequence as it is categorized as a Flight IIA platform.
These multi-mission destroyers are equipped with advanced technology that enhances their operational effectiveness in various warfare domains, including anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine operations, and ballistic missile defense. A key feature of the Flight III variant is the incorporation of Raytheon’s AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defense radar along with Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Baseline 10 combat system.
The inaugural Flight III ship, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), was delivered to the Navy in June 2023 and subsequently commissioned in October. As construction continues on additional Flight III destroyers at both HII and Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, the US Navy is positioned to maintain a robust Arleigh Burke fleet, which is essential for projecting power and countering potential adversaries, particularly in strategically sensitive areas such as the South China Sea amid ongoing naval developments from China.
