US 7th Fleet welcomes new BMD-capable guided missile destroyer

US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) arrived at US Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka to join the forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) in Japan.

The arrival of Milius to the 7th Fleet on Tuesday, May 22, adds another upgraded Aegis Baseline 9 destroyer to the waterfront in Yokosuka.

“The crew has trained extremely hard to get the ship fully certified and ready for tasking,” said Milius Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jennifer Pontius. “There is a lot of planning and preparation that goes into getting a ship ready to forward deploy and to transition a crew and their families overseas; I could not be prouder of this crew and their hard work.”

On hand to welcome Milius to their new home Tuesday, were senior members of the naval forces leadership in Yokosuka, including Fleet Activities Yokosuka’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Jeffrey Kim.

“Fleet Activities Yokosuka is very happy to welcome the entire Milius team, including their families, to their new home,” said Kim, who oversees the U.S. Navy’s largest overseas installation.

“As a community, we look forward to supporting USS Milius as one of 13 Forward Deployed Naval Force ships stationed here in Yokosuka.”

USS Milius was originally scheduled to sail to Japan in 2017 reinforcing the navy’s BMD fleet following the USS Fitzgerald collision in June 2017, but was rescheduled so the ship could complete its maintenance and modernization. The destroyer was fitted with the Aegis Baseline 9 combat system during its modernization.

Millius is expected to be joined in Japan by the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) which is scheduled to forward-deploy to Sasebo later this year.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers perform key roles in support of carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups or surface action groups. Destroyers are capable of sustained combat operations supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence.