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Positive
Successful completion of builder’s sea trials for Ted Stevens (DDG 128)
Currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction, showing strong order book
Strategic partnerships established with multiple shipyards to increase production capacity
Company’s position as largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi demonstrates operational scale
Insights
HII’s successful destroyer sea trials indicate construction progress and robust naval shipbuilding operations with expanding production capacity.
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has hit a crucial production milestone with the successful completion of builder’s sea trials for the Ted Stevens (DDG 128), the second Flight III destroyer built at their facilities. These comprehensive trials conducted in the Gulf of America validated the vessel’s engineering, navigation, and combat systems, including the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar array testing critical to Flight III capabilities.
This achievement positions the Ted Stevens closer to acceptance trials and eventual delivery to the U.S. Navy, representing tangible progress in HII’s destroyer production pipeline. The company currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction, following their delivery of the first Flight III vessel, USS Jack H. Lucas, in June 2023.
What’s particularly noteworthy is HII’s strategic response to increased Navy demand. The company recently announced partnerships with multiple shipyards across several states to expand production capacity, specifically selecting outfitted structural units for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to be constructed at partner locations before final integration at Ingalls. This distributed manufacturing approach indicates both strong demand signals from the Navy and HII’s proactive capacity expansion to secure additional contract work.
The Flight III Arleigh Burke-class represents significant technological advancement with its enhanced Air and Missile Defense Radar and Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System, designed to counter evolving threats through the 21st century. As Mississippi’s largest manufacturing employer with 86+ years of naval vessel construction experience, Ingalls’ consistent execution on these high-value programs demonstrates operational stability in its core defense business.
09/27/2025 – 10:00 AM
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — Defense contractor HII (NYSE: HII) announced the successful completion of builder’s sea trials for the guided missile destroyer *Ted Stevens* (DDG 128), marking a significant stride in the construction of the second Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer at its Ingalls Shipbuilding division. The rigorous trials, conducted over several days in the Gulf of America, comprehensively assessed the vessel’s engineering, navigation, and combat systems, paving the way for forthcoming acceptance trials and eventual delivery to the U.S. Navy.
“The Ingalls and Navy team worked diligently to get DDG 128 ready for sea, and I want to recognize the team’s determination in reaching this major milestone,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding DDG Program Manager Ben Barnett. “Their efforts reflect the urgency we all share in delivering these ships with the highest quality and technological advancements needed to support the U.S. Navy fleet and to protect our national security.”
During the tests, the Ingalls team conducted a battery of hull, mechanical, and electrical assessments, placing particular emphasis on the cutting-edge Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar array. These trials are engineered to ensure the vessel surpasses the stringent performance benchmarks mandated by the Navy. The successful completion of these trials underscores HII’s commitment to delivering state-of-the-art naval capabilities amid growing geopolitical tensions and increasing demand for advanced maritime defense technology.
The Flight III *Arleigh Burke*-class destroyers represent a pivotal technological leap in the U.S. Navy’s surface combatant fleet. A key upgrade is the inclusion of the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), coupled with the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System. This advanced configuration provides significantly enhanced detection range and precision, enabling the vessel to counter increasingly sophisticated missile and aerial threats projected into the 21st century. Industry analysts suggest the SPY-6 radar, developed by Raytheon, is a game-changer offering significantly improved performance against ballistic and cruise missiles. The Aegis Baseline 10 further enhances the ship’s ability to integrate data from multiple sensors and coordinate responses across various warfare domains.
Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered 35 *Arleigh Burke*-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy, including the first Flight III, USS *Jack H. Lucas* (DDG 125), delivered in June 2023. The company currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction, including the *Ted Stevens* (DDG 128), *Jeremiah Denton* (DDG 129), *George M. Neal* (DDG 131), *Sam Nunn* (DDG 133) and *Thad Cochran* (DDG 135).
To meet the escalating demands of the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding program, HII announced earlier this month a strategic initiative to partner with various shipyards and fabricators across multiple states. This collaboration aims to amplify throughput and expedite the production of critical naval assets. As part of this endeavor, Ingalls Shipbuilding will leverage the capabilities of partner locations to construct, inspect, and accept outfitted structural units for *Arleigh Burke*-class destroyers, subsequently delivering them to Ingalls for final integration. This distributed manufacturing approach should help HII meet its production deadlines and capitalize on future contract awards.
With over 86 years of experience designing, building, and maintaining amphibious ships and destroyers for the U.S. Navy, Ingalls Shipbuilding is Mississippi’s largest manufacturing employer.
**About HII**
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider focused on delivering powerful ships and all-domain solutions. The company’s capabilities extend from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML, and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII employs a workforce of approximately 44,000.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d83fd476-a80e-4939-9de7-0add85891fdd
What milestone did HII achieve with the Ted Stevens (DDG 128) destroyer?
HII successfully completed builder’s sea trials for Ted Stevens (DDG 128), testing its engineering, navigation, and combat systems including the Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar array.
How many Arleigh Burke-class destroyers has HII delivered to the U.S. Navy?
HII has delivered 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy, including the first Flight III, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), in June 2023.
What are the current destroyer construction projects at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding?
HII currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction: Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131), Sam Nunn (DDG 133), and Thad Cochran (DDG 135).
How is HII expanding its shipbuilding capacity?
HII is partnering with several shipyards and fabricators across multiple states, with structural units being constructed at partner locations and delivered to Ingalls for final integration.
What improvements are included in the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers?
Flight III destroyers feature enhanced capabilities including the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System to address 21st-century threats.
