Bath Iron Works-built US Navy destroyer Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) completed builder’s trials late March after four days underway, the US Navy announced.
Builder’s trials consist of a series of in-port and at-sea demonstrations that allow the shipbuilder and the Navy to assess the ship’s systems and its readiness for delivery.
“With the successful completion of these trials, we move closer to adding DDG 116 and her exceptional capabilities to the fleet,” said Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “The Navy and industry team worked diligently to ensure the ship operates at peak performance.”
DDG 116 is the first Flight IIA Technology Insertion destroyer incorporating the Aegis baseline 9 combat system with an integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) capability, a ballistic missile defense 5.0 capability upgrade (BMD 5.0CU) and naval integrated fire control-counter air (NIFC-CA).
Future Thomas Hudner will return to sea to conduct acceptance trials with the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey later this spring. During acceptance trials, all systems and gears will undergo inspection and evaluation to ensure quality and operational readiness prior to the Navy accepting delivery.
BIW is currently in production on future Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) and John Basilone (DDG 122), as well as future Zumwalt-class destroyers Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) and Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002).