Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] Ingalls Shipbuilding division redelivered the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG-61) to the Navy on Monday after completing nine months of overhaul and modernization work.
The overhaul and modification work, conducted at HII’s Pascagoula, Miss. facility, included procurement of materials, ship alterations, and repairs. HII highlighted the ship was redelivered four days ahead of schedule after testing and final work.
The Ramage was originally built by HII and delivered to the Navy first in 1995.
“It was a privilege to modernize and overhaul USS Ramage. The success of this project proves our shipbuilders have the skills and expertise to handle any project,” Brian Cuccias, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, said in a statement.
HII has delivered 29 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. The most recent one was the USS John Funn (DDG-113), commissioned last month. The company is currently constructing DDG-114, DDG-117, DDG-119, DDG-121, and DDG-123.
In June the Naval Sea Systems Command awarded HII a contract modification to incorporate Flight III baseline upgrades to the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125). The Flight III incorporates the SPY-6 Air and Missile Defense Radar for improved detection and tracking of targets.
DDG-125 will be the 35th Aegis destroyer built for the Navy and HII plans to start fabrication in 2018.