Guided-missile destroyer Paul Ignatius (DDG-117) has completed its acceptance trials ahead of an expected early 2019 delivery to the Navy, Naval Sea System Command announced on Friday.
The Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer spent two days in the Gulf of Mexico working through a series of demonstrations and tests for the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey
(INSURV).
“The ship performed very well, which is a testament to the preparation and commitment of the Navy-shipbuilder team,” said Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships in a statement. “The ship also previously performed a successful SM-2 shoot during builder’s trials, further demonstrating the readiness of the ship’s Aegis weapon system and ship’s force. These trials put the ship on a solid path towards delivery to the Navy.”
The ship will feature the Aegis Baseline 9 combat system that will allow the ship to simultaneously patrol for ballistic missile threats as well as combat traditional air and cruise missiles threats.
The Huntington Ingalls Industries-built Ignatius is set to be the first destroyer commissioned of a ten-ship, multiyear Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) procurement. The contract was awarded to HII and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in 2013 that followed a 2008, four-ship restart of the Burke line.
In September the two companies were awarded a multiyear deal for Flight III Burkes with a combined value of about $9 billion.
HII is also constructing Flight IIA destroyers Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), Frank E. Peterson Jr. (DDG-121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123) and the first Flight III Burke Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125).
The following is the complete Dec. 21, 2018 statement from NAVSEA.
Future USS Paul Ignatius Successfully Completes Acceptance Trials
From Team Ships Public Affairs
Pascagoula, Miss. – The future USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) successfully completed acceptance trials on Dec. 20, returning to Huntington Ingalls
Industries’ (HII) Pascagoula shipyard after spending two days at sea in the Gulf of Mexico.
During acceptance trials, the ship and its crew performed a series of demonstrations for review by the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey
(INSURV). These demonstrations are used by INSURV to validate the quality of construction and compliance with Navy specifications and requirements prior to delivery of the ship to the U.S. Navy.
“The ship performed very well, which is a testament to the preparation and commitment of the Navy-shipbuilder team,” said Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51
class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “The ship also previously performed a successful SM-2 shoot during builder’s trials,
further demonstrating the readiness of the ship’s Aegis weapon system and ship’s force. These trials put the ship on a solid path towards delivery to the Navy.”
The DDG 51 class ships currently being constructed are Aegis Baseline 9 Integrated Air and Missile Defense destroyers with increased computing power and radar upgrades that improve detection and reaction capabilities against modern air warfare and Ballistic Missile Defense threats. When operational, DDG 117 and her sister ships will serve as integral assets in global maritime security.
The future USS Paul Ignatius is expected to be delivered to the Navy early next year. HII’s Pascagoula shipyard is also currently in production on the future destroyers Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Frank E. Peterson Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) and Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), the first Flight III ship. HII was recently awarded a contract for the design and construction of six additional DDG 51 class Flight III ships.
As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all
destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and boats and craft.
-NAVSEA-
