The Navy accepted the delivery of the future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) from shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, Nov. 30.
The delivery of DDG 121 represents the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy. Prior to delivery, the ship successfully conducted a series of at-sea and pier-side trials to demonstrate its material and operational readiness.
DDG 121 is an Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9C2 Combat System, which includes Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability and enhanced Ballistic Missile Defense capabilities. This system delivers quick reaction time, high firepower, and increased electronic countermeasures capability against a variety of threats.
“DDG 121 brings critical readiness to the fleet to ensure our Sailors are postured for success today and in the future,” said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “The ship will honor the legacy of its namesake and provide the needed capability and capacity to the fleet.”
The future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. is named for the United States Marines Corps’ first African American aviator and general officer. Petersen entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1950 and went on to fly more than 350 combat missions during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division also has four more Arleigh Burke-class destroyers under construction, including Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 128).
As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and boats and craft.