US Navy’s new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), successfully completed builder’s trials on December 19 after spending four days at sea off the coast of Bath, Maine.
Builder’s trials consist of a series of in-port and at-sea demonstrations that allow the shipbuilder, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW), and the navy to assess the ship’s systems and its readiness for delivery.
After 3 days at sea, the future Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) has returned from sea trials. DDG 118 is now back at Pier 2, and is one step closer to delivery. A big thank you to our crew who took her out to sea, and to all of our employees who made this momentous occasion a reality. pic.twitter.com/F2HOpoXwUh
“The successful completion of these trials is a critical step to ensuring full combat-readiness of the ship,” Capt. Seth Miller , DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, said.
Daniel Inouye is a Flight IIA destroyer, equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 combat system, which includes integrated air and missile defense capability and enhanced ballistic missile defense capabilities. This system delivers quick reaction time, high firepower, and increased electronic countermeasures capability against a variety of threats.
The future USS Daniel Inouye will return to sea to conduct acceptance trials with the US Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey early next year. During acceptance trials, all systems will be inspected and evaluated to ensure quality and operational readiness prior to the navy accepting delivery.
BIW is also building 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 the first Flight III ship, Louis H. Wilson, Jr. (DDG 126) , as well as the future Zumwalt-class destroyer, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002).