BATH, Maine - The future USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115)
achieved "light off" of its Aegis Combat System at the Bath Iron
Works (BIW) shipyard Dec. 17.
The Aegis system light off marks the beginning of combat
system testing for the ship. These
comprehensive tests will ensure all combat system equipment is operational and
communicative.
Rafael Peralta will be equipped with the AEGIS Baseline 9
Combat System which includes an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD)
capability incorporating Ballistic Missile Defense 5.0 Capability Upgrade (BMD
5.0CU) and Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA).
"I am very proud of all our industry and government
team that got us to this day. I look
forward to a successful test program and taking DDG 115 to sea in 2016."
said Capt. Mark Vandroff, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive
Office (PEO) Ships. "This is the
first BIW DDG 51 restart destroyer to achieve aegis light off and we're excited
to provide the Fleet with another DDG 51 equipped with enhanced IAMD
warfighting capabilities."
The Aegis baseline 9 IAMD destroyers have increased
computing power along with radar upgrades that improve detection and reaction
capabilities against modern air warfare and BMD threats. When operational,
these multi-mission surface combatants will serve as an integral player in
global maritime security, engaging in air, undersea, surface, strike and
ballistic missile defense as well as increased capabilities in anti-submarine
warfare, command and control, and anti-surface warfare.
"Rafael Peralta is an awesome warship. I'm
tremendously excited that she has achieved aegis light-off, the most critical
combat system milestone for new construction Aegis destroyers," said Capt.
Tom Druggan, Aegis combat systems program manager in PEO Integrated Warfare
Systems (PEO IWS 1.0). "Aegis baseline 9 expands our engageable
battlespace eight-fold and is delivering key capabilities in support of
distributed lethality. Fleet introduction of Aegis baseline 9 is going very
well, including deployments and carrier strike group operations, and the fleet
is excited about adding another extremely capable, multi-mission Aegis
destroyer to the fleet."
DDG 115 was christened Oct 31 and launched Nov. 1. Upon
delivery in late-2016, Rafael Peralta will be the 65th Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)
class destroyer to join the Fleet.
- NAVSEA -