The future Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA destroyer USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118) finished acceptance trials on Feb. 4 following a day underway off the coast of Maine.

The trials on the General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works [GD] ship included inspections by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) during a set of demonstration both pier side and while underway. Onboard ship systems tested included navigation, damage control, electrical, combat, communications, and propulsion to validate performance.

The future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118) gets underway for builder’s sea trials, sailing down the Kennebec River in Maine from General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works shipyard in December 2020. (Photo: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works).
The future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118) gets underway for builder’s sea trials, sailing down the Kennebec River in Maine from General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works shipyard in December 2020. (Photo: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works).

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) noted all tested systems “met or exceeded Navy specifications.”

The service noted it and the industry team will be ready to deliver the destroyer “within the next few weeks.”

“Following an outstanding Combined Alpha and Bravo trials this past December, DDG-118 performed superbly during the ship’s Acceptance Trial earlier this week,” Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, said in a statement.

Previously, the Navy and GD completed builder’s trials in December that included a series of in-port and at-sea demonstration, including four days at sea off the coast of Maine (Defense Daily, Dec. 22, 2020).

NAVSEA noted the Daniel Inouye is equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 combat system, which includes both 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,” the Navy said.

DDG-118 will be the 37th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer delivered by GD Bath Iron Works in Maine.

The shipyard is also in production on the future Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Carl M. Levin (DDG-120), John Basilone (DDG-122), Harvey C. Barnum (DDG-124), Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127), and Flight III ships, Louis H. Wilson, Jr. (DDG-126), and William Charette (DDG-130). Separately, the shipyard is completing production on the third and final future Zumwalt-class destroyer, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002).