Future USS Thomas Hudner aces acceptance trials

US Navy’s future USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) successfully completed acceptance trials May 3 after spending a day underway off the coast of Maine.

The US Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) reviewed the ship and its crew during a series of demonstrations while pier side and underway.

As informed, many of the ship’s onboard systems including navigation, damage control, mechanical and electrical systems, combat systems, communications and propulsion applications that were tested to validate performance met or exceeded navy specifications.

“The success of the Bath Iron Works (BIW) built future USS Thomas Hudner during acceptance trials is a testament to the continued quality and high performance of our navy’s destroyers,” Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, said.

“The Thomas Hudner is a very capable warfighter that will be a significant asset to the fleet,” Moton added.

Thomas Hudner is 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 and Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air. The ship’s IAMD radar will provide increased computing power and radar upgrades that improve detection and reaction capabilities against modern air warfare threats.

Following delivery, DDG 116 will be the 36th Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class destroyer to be delivered by BIW.

The shipyard is currently in production on future destroyers Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) and John Basilone (DDG 122), as well as the future Zumwalt class destroyer, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002).