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The USS Jack H. Lucas guided missile destroyer successfully completed its initial builder’s sea trials following several days of testing in the Gulf of Mexico, HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division confirmed.
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Throughout the trials, the new DDG 125 successfully passed the hull, mechanical and electrical tests, while undertaking first in class Flight III events with the SPY-6 arrays.
The asset also successfully tested the machinery control system, ensuring the viability of the new electric plant.
The Jack H. Lucas features advanced detection and ballistic missile defence capabilities.
“Flight III ships will provide cutting edge Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability to include significantly greater detection range and tracking capacity. Launching the first Flight III ship, the future Jack H. Lucas, is another important step to delivering Flight III to the Navy,” DDG 51 Arleigh Burke Class Program Manager, Captain Seth Miller said in June.
According to the US Navy, the ships are designed to respond to low intensity, littoral warfare and open ocean scenarios.
“Getting DDG 125 underway is a significant milestone in keeping this first Flight III ship on schedule and reflects the hard work and dedication of our combined Ingalls and Navy team to ensure a successful sea trials,” Ingalls Shipbuilding president Kari Wilkinson said.
“We are all very happy with how DDG 125 performed, and we look forward to delivering this highly advanced ship to the Navy.”
The shipbuilder currently has five DDGs under construction, including DDG 128 Ted Stevens, DDG 129 Jeremiah Denton, DDG 131 George M. Neal and DDG 133 Sam Nunn.
In May, the USS Frank E Petersen Jr (DDG 121) was the latest Arleigh Burke Class guided-missile destroyer to be commissioned into service with the US Navy.
The vessel — commissioned at a ceremony on Saturday (14 May) — has been named in honour of Marine Corps Lieutenant General Frank E Petersen, Jr, who was the first Black Marine Corps aviator and the first Black Marine Corps officer promoted to brigadier general.
“This ship honours the life and legacy of Lt Gen Frank E Petersen, Jr, a pioneer not just for Marine Corps aviation but for our entire naval force,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said.
“I have no doubt the crew will be a cornerstone of the Surface Force carrying his legacy forward and strengthening the bond between our Navy and Marine Corps team.”
Arleigh Burke Class destroyers form the basis of the US Navy’s surface fleet, designed to conduct a variety of operations, including peacetime presence to national security, providing multi-threat air, surface and subsurface domain missions.
The nearly 9,500-tonne USS Frank E Petersen Jr is 509.5 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet.
The ship is powered by four gas turbine engines, enabling speeds in excess of 30 knots.
USS Frank E Petersen Jr is expected to be homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
USS Frank E Petersen Jr is the latest addition to the US Navy fleet.
[Related: US Navy commissions Arleigh Burke destroyer]
