USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee at her naming ceremony. (Photo: Huntington Ingalls Industries)
Huntington Ingalls Industries on 24 April christened its new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) during a small socially distanced ceremony.
DDG 123 is named after Lenah Sutcliff Higbee, the first woman to receive the Navy Cross.
The vessel was acquired on behalf of the DoD and USN by Program Executive Office Ships.
DDG 123 is configured as a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class vessel to enable power projection, forward presence and escort operations at sea to support low-intensity conflict, coastal and littoral offshore warfare and open ocean conflict.
The ship incorporates a cooperative engagement capability, which, when combined with the Aegis combat system, will allow groups of ships and aircraft to link their radars and provide a composite picture of the battlespace.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Arleigh Burke class was designed to replace the USN's Spruance-class destroyers. A total of 47 Flight IIA vessels have been ordered to date with 40 in service. There are also 13 confirmed orders for Flight III vessels.
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