General Dynamics (GD) Bath Iron Works (BIW) has started construction on the US Navy’s new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), at the BIW shipyard.
Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships DDG 51-class programme manager captain Mark Vandroff said: "Construction on Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyers is in full swing on the East and Gulf Coasts.
"The restart DDG 51s benefit from a mature and stable design, with increased air and missile defence capabilities.
"These build on a legacy of success, providing outstanding combat capability and survivability characteristics."
The latest move follows the keel laying of another Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Rafael Peralta (DDG 115).
The new vessel will feature the navy’s Aegis Combat System, which delivers rapid reaction time, high firepower and amplified electronic countermeasure potential for anti-air warfare.
Daniel Inouye forms part of the navy’s latest flight of destroyer, Flight IIA, which enables power projection, forward presence and escort missions at sea for low intensity conflict / coastal and littoral offshore warfare and open-ocean conflict.
The Arleigh Burke-class multimission combatants can execute missions from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection.
The vessels support carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups.
