U.S. Navy has launched another Arleigh Burke destroyer.

8 July, at Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard in Bath in Maine, a General Dynamics company, held the ceremony of handing over the USS missile destroyer John Basilone (DDG-122) for the US Navy.

This unit is the 72nd Arleigh Burke-type destroyer, which is the 39th ship built by BIW, as well as one of the last ships in Flight IIA Ti configuration, constituting a technological transition to the latest version of Flight III.

Destroyer John Basilone, named after the U.S. Marine Corps hero, gunnery sgt. John Basilone, who died in the Battle of Iwo Jima, was ordered on June 3, 2013, and the keel under its construction was laid down on January 10, 2020. It was launched on June 12, 2022. As part of a series of naval trials which began on March 18, 2024, on board was, among others, a delegation from the Inspectorate of INSURV, responsible for inspecting ships in the US Navy.

The vessel, equipped with a full displacement of 9238 tonnes and a COGAG system, is equipped with three-ordinated AN/SPY-1D(V) radar, making it one of the last units with this system. Further destroyers will already receive AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar, which is a significant upgrade compared to previous technology. This system allows to detect, track and combat air, water and underwater targets at long distances.

USS John Basilone can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots and the operating range at an economic speed of 20 knots is 4400 nautical miles, allowing missions of up to 45 days without replenishment and refueling. The crew of the ship is 315 people, including 22 officers and 293 enlisted officers and sailors, as well as 21-air personnel.

The main weaponry of the ship is a vertical launcher Mk 41 (VLS) that can be equipped with a variety of missiles, including Standard Missile (SM-2 and SM-6) anti-aircraft missiles, Tomahawk maneuvering missiles for land-based attacks and ASROC type rocket torpedoes. In addition, John Basilone is armed with SeaRAM missile defense system, a 5-inch universal cannon Mk 45 Mod 4 and torpedo launchers to combat submarines. The entire weaponry is supported by modern electronic systems and radio-electronic combat, making the destroyer a versatile and highly effective unit in various combat scenarios.

The BIW shipyard is working on six further Arleigh Burke destroyers, including two Flight IIA versions Ti: Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG-124) and Patrick Gallagherr (DDG-127) and four Flight III versions: Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126), William Charette (DDG-130), Quentin Walsh (DDG-132) and John E. Kilmer (DDG-134) .

Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz