The USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116), which arrived in the Middle East on July 16, is one of the most sophisticated destroyers in the US Navy and represents a stepping stone in the development of the Arleigh Burke class.

The Thomas Hudner was commissioned in December 2018 and is the first of 10 Flight IIA "Technology Insertion" Arleigh Burke-class destroyer with elements of the next generation of Flight III destroyers.

The ship was named in honour of US naval aviator Thomas Hudner, who earned the Medal of Honour for trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.

As a Flight IIA "Technology Insertion" destroyer, the Hudner is equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System, the Navy said in a press release in May 2018.

The system includes an Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) capability incorporating Ballistic Missile Defence 5.0 Capability Upgrade and Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air, according to the release.

"The ship's IAMD radar will provide increased computing power and radar upgrades that improve detection and reaction capabilities against modern air warfare threats," it added.

The Aegis Combat System will enable the ship to link radars with other ships and aircraft to provide a composite picture of the battle space, and effectively increase the theater space.

Enhanced capabilities

With a maximum speed of 31 knots and a crew of 380 sailors, the Hudner is the 66th ship of the Arleigh Burke class.

The class has been built in three flights -- Flight I (DDG-51-DDG-71), Flight II (DDG-72-DDG-78), and Flight IIA (DDG-79-124 and DDG-127).

The Flight IIA ships, including the Thomas Hudner, are equipped with 96 Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) missiles as opposed to the 90 of Flights I and II, making them more heavily armed than many preceding guided-missile cruiser classes.

The system can launch nine types of missiles, including the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM) or Standard Missile 6 (SM-6), and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM).

Flight IIA variants of the Arleigh Burke also incorporate facilities capable of supporting two embarked helicopters, significantly enhancing the ship's sea-control capability.

Moving forward

The next generation Flight III includes DDGs 125-126 and DDG-128 onwards and will replace the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers in the air defence role in the carrier strike group.

The first Flight III Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer, Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), successfully completed acceptance trials in May.

The 10,000-tonne destroyer "is the first to field the active electronically scanned array AN/SPY-6 Air and Missile Defence Radar that has stretched the weight and space limits of the Arleigh Burke design", USNI News reported in December.

The design also replaces the three Rolls Royce 3-megawatt generators on the Flight IIA ships with Rolls Royce's 4-megawatt generators, adding a 4,160-volt power grid to drive the SPY-6.

The SPY-6 is the major feature of the upgraded Aegis Baseline 10, which is designed to receive active upgrades, according to manufacturer Lockheed.

"As the first Flight III ship, DDG-125 is the culmination of years of dedication and perseverance to design, build and integrate the Flight III capability of [Aegis Combat System Baseline 10], [SPY-6 Air and Missile Defence Radar] and the supporting systems such as the new electric plant and associated upgrade to the machinery control system," a Navy officer said in December.