The U.S. Navy has commissioned its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 27.
Name of DDG-117 in honour of Paul Robert Ignatius, who served in the US Navy during the Second World War-II and later during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics) 1964-1967, and Secretary of the Navy 1967-1969. Ignatius’ wife, Nancy, who passed away earlier this year, is the ship’s sponsor. Dr. Elisa Ignatius, granddaughter to the late Nancy Ignatius, served as the ship sponsor representative.
USS Paul Ignatius is a Flight IIA ship fitted with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System which includes Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability. This system delivers quick reaction time, high firepower, and increased electronic countermeasures capability for Anti-Air Warfare.
These multi-mission surface combatants serve as integral assets in global maritime security, engaging in air, undersea, surface, strike and ballistic missile defense, as well as providing increased capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, command and control, and anti-surface warfare.
It’s home port will be near Jacksonville.
