The US laid the keel of 83 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

27 November, 2024 USS Ted Stevens. Photo: US Navy The US laid the keel of the 83rd Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the USS Sam Nunn.

This was reported by the US Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command. The laying ceremony took place at Ingalls Shipbuilding HII on November 22, 2024, marking the start of construction of the 83rd destroyer of this type, as well as the 8th destroyer in the Flight III configuration. The ship is named in honor of United States Senator Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr., who represented the state of Georgia and was Chairman of the United States Senate Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

The official keel laying ceremony for the new guided-missile destroyer USS Sam Nunn.

Photo credits: HII Ingalls Shipbuilding

"The future USS Sam Nunn and all who sail aboard her will honor the legacy of Sen. Nunn and his dedication to the men and women serving our country," Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, said.

As noted, the destroyer will be the eighth representative of the Flight III configuration, designed to use new radar systems, including the new AN/SPY-6(V)1 active phased array radar antenna. These new antennas will significantly improve the ship's missile defense capabilities, including detecting and targeting missiles, as well as detecting air and ballistic targets, even when the enemy is actively using electronic warfare systems. "DDG 133 will be yet another player on the field providing the most advanced capability to our Navy and the nation," Capt.

Seth Miller added.

USS Jack H. Lucas. Photo: US Navy

The ship follows Flight IIA's configuration, and the bulk of the weapons are housed in Mk.41 vertical launchers with 96 cells.

Depending on the mission, the destroyer is capable of carrying ESSM, SM-2, SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles, SM-6 anti-missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and VL-ASROC anti-submarine missiles.

The anti-ship armament consists of 8 Harpoon missile launchers, as well as Tomahawk Block 5 missiles, which have the ability to hit surface-moving targets at a range of about 500 km.

Militarnyi previously reported that the White House Office of Management and Budget is asking Congress for an additional £7.3 billion to pay for Columbia and Virginia-class submarines.