On Monday, October 5, the U.S. Navy commissioned the newest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Ted Stevens. According to Naval Today, the ceremony was held in Whittier, Alaska. The commissioning site and the ship's name are intended to perpetuate the legacy of the late Senator Ted Stevens, a decorated combat pilot and a lifelong advocate for the interests of Alaska and the US Armed Forces. For four decades in the Senate, from 1968 to 2009, he served as interim Chairman of the Senate and Honorary Interim Chairman, devoting his career to modernizing the army, strengthening national security and equipping military personnel with everything necessary for victory.
During the ceremony, the ship's sponsors, Catherine Ann Stevens, the senator's wife, and his daughters, gave the traditional naval order: "Man the ship and breathe life into it!"
The destroyer Ted Stevens, USA
US Navy
"To my crew, my colleagues, the men and women who are the heart and soul of this great ship: You have exceeded all expectations," said Captain Mary Cathy Hayes, commander of the destroyer Ted Stevens. "We are ready to respond to the call of our nation. We are ready to defend freedom wherever the winds of war blow – off the harsh shores of Alaska or in the most remote corners of the planet."
After completing the certification, the ship will depart for its permanent base in Norfolk, Virginia.
DDG-128 Ted Stevens is the 78th Arleigh Burke–class destroyer designed for the United States Navy, and the second ship of this type built in the Flight III modification at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula. It was laid down in March 2022 and launched in August 2023. Factory sea trials of the destroyer were completed in September 2025.
Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula has supplied 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy. The plant continues to build four ships of this type in the Flight III configuration: DDG-129 Jeremiah Denton, DDG-131 George M. Neal, DDG-133 Sam Nunn and DDG-135 Ted Cochran.
The key differences between the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers of the Flight III modification are the installation of the latest AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defense radar, the modernization of power grids and cooling systems. In addition, the latest version of the Aegis combat information and control system, Baseline 10, is integrated.
The total displacement of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the Flight III version reaches 9700 tons, the length of the hull is 155 meters, the width is 20 meters. The maximum speed exceeds 30 knots. The cruising range is 4,400 nautical miles. The crew consists of 300 people.
The main attack weapon of the destroyer is two universal Mk.41 launchers, which can use both SM anti–aircraft missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles and ASROC anti-submarine missiles. The ship's arsenal is complemented by a 127 mm Mk.45 gun mount, a six-barrel 20 mm Phalanx anti-aircraft gun mount and two 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannons, four 12.7mm machine guns, as well as two three-tube 324 mm torpedo tubes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters are based on board.
