Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) confirmed on September 27, 2025, that the future USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128), an Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyer, has successfully completed builder’s sea trials in the Gulf of America. Constructed at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, DDG 128 is the second Flight III destroyer built at the yard, marking a major milestone toward delivery and entry into operational service.
During the trials, the ship’s propulsion, power generation, navigation, steering, and command-and-control systems were tested under real-world conditions. A key focus was the validation of the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar, which is the defining feature of the Flight III configuration and provides the ability to detect and engage advanced air and missile threats at extended ranges.
USS Ted Stevens is fitted with the latest Aegis Combat System, Baseline 10, fully integrated with the SPY-6 radar. This upgrade delivers enhanced situational awareness, faster processing, and increased lethality across multiple warfare domains. The destroyer carries 96 Mk 41 VLS cells capable of launching SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, and ESSM, and is armed with a Mk 45 Mod 4 5-inch gun, Phalanx CIWS, dual torpedo launchers, and the SQQ-89(V)15 undersea warfare suite.
The Flight III design features increased power generation and cooling capacity to support high-energy sensors and future directed-energy weapons. These enhancements allow DDG 128 to meet the demands of Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) and operate seamlessly with joint and allied forces via Link-16, CEC, and other networked warfare systems.
Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to date, including the first Flight III ship, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), in 2023. Five additional Flight III destroyers are currently under construction, reflecting growing demand for advanced surface combatants in response to global naval threats.
Next, USS Ted Stevens will undergo U.S. Navy acceptance trials conducted by the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) later this year, with commissioning planned for mid-2026. Once delivered, the ship will join the Pacific Fleet as a key asset for deterrence, power projection, and integrated missile defense.
