USS Ralph Johnson completes builder’s trials

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has now completed builder's sea trials of the US Navy’s future destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), the Naval Sea Systems Command announced on 21 July.

During the trials, the ship spent four days in the Gulf of Mexico conducting a series of in-port and at-sea demonstrations. Major tests that took place included running the ship at full power and steering, self-defence detect-to-engage exercises, and anchoring demonstrations.

The DDG 51 class ships currently being built 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 defence threats.

The future USS Ralph Johnson will return to sea to conduct acceptance trials with the navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey. During the trials, all systems and gears will be inspected and evaluated to ensure quality and operational readiness prior to the navy accepting delivery.

HII is currently in production on future destroyers Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Frank E. Petersen Jr (DDG 121) and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123).