DDG 129 will be the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in the Flight III configuration by HII at Ingalls Shipbuilding (and the fourth ship in the series), following DDG 125 Jack H. Lucas (the first Flight III ship) and DDG 128 Ted Stevens. DDG 126 Louis H. Wilson Jr. (the second Flight III ship) is being built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works while DDG 127 Patrick Gallagher is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in a previous configuration known as Flight IIA Technology Insertion.
DDG 129’s name honors former U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton, a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism while a prisoner of war. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946, Denton went on to serve in the Navy for 34 years as a test pilot, flight instructor and squadron leader. Following decades of military service, Denton was elected to the Senate in 1980 where he represented the state of Alabama for six years.
Ingalls has delivered 32 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction include Frank E. Peterson Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and Ted Stevens (DDG 128).
About DDG 51 Flight III Destroyer
Flight III destroyers will have improved capability and capacity to perform Anti-Air Warfare and Ballistic Missile Defense in support of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense mission. This system delivers quick reaction time, high firepower, and increased electronic countermeasures capability for Anti-Air Warfare.
The Flight III design contains modifications from the earlier DDG 51 class, to enable the SPY-6 radar, in association with Aegis Baseline 10, which includes larger electronically scanned arrays and the power generation and cooling equipment required to operate the powerful new radar.
