The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the guided-missile destroyer future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) from shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, March 8.
Delivery of DDG 118 represents the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy. Prior to delivery, the ship successfully conducted a series of at-sea and pier-side trials to demonstrate its material and operational readiness.
USS Daniel Inouye
USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118) will be an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the United States Navy. She will be the third of eight planned Flight IIA “technology insertion” ships, which will contain elements of the Flight III ships projected to begin with DDG-125. Daniel Inouye‘s keel was laid on 14 May 2018 and christened by Inouye’s widow, Irene Hirano Inouye, on 22 June 2019.
The future USS Daniel Inouye is named in honor of Daniel Inouye, who served as a United States Senator for Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012. He received the Medal of Honor June 21, 2000 for his extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team in Italy during World War II.
DDG 118 is a Flight IIA destroyer equipped with Aegis Baseline 9, which provides improved Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities, increased computing power, and radar upgrades that improve detection range and reaction time against modern air warfare and Ballistic Missile Defense threats.
“This highly capable platform will deliver the necessary combat power and proven capacity as the ship joins the world’s greatest Navy.” said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “DDG 118 will continue to honor the legacy of its namesake and ‘Go For Broke’ for decades to come as it supports our Country.”
The other US Navy ships under construction at Bath Iron Works
BIW is also in production on the future Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Carl M. Levin (DDG 120), John Basilone (DDG 122), Harvey C. Barnum (DDG 124), Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), and Flight III ships, Louis H. Wilson, Jr. (DDG 126), and William Charette (DDG 130), as well as the future Zumwalt-class destroyer, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002).
AEGIS Combat System
The Aegis Combat System is an American integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin. It uses powerful computer and radar technology to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets.
Initially used by the United States Navy, Aegis is now used also by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Spanish Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy, Republic of Korea Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Saudi Navy. Over 100 Aegis-equipped ships have been deployed. It is also part of NATO’s European missile defense system.
