General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (GDBIW) has laid the keel for the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class Flight III (DDG 51) guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132).
The keel laying and its authentication mark the official start of hull integration, a significant phase that precedes launch and sea trials.
BIW president Charles Krugh said: “The keel-laying ceremony marks the coming together on Land Level of several large units which our shipbuilders have built to precise specifications in our production buildings.
“When Quentin Walsh is launched and joins the fleet, it will be a powerful platform our sailors can rely on to protect our country and our families.”
The ship is named in honour of US Coast Guard Captain Quentin Walsh, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery and leadership during World War II.
Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer programme manager captain Jay Young said: “We are honoured to mark the beginning of the construction for the future USS Quentin Walsh and celebrate his legacy with his family.
“DDG 132 will provide our Navy with critical strategic capabilities to support fleet readiness.”
The Flight III destroyer will feature AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defence radar, as well as offensive and defensive weapon systems to support maritime warfare. This includes capabilities such as integrated air and missile defence and vertical launch.
Additional features of the destroyer include updated electrical power and cooling capacity and other related changes for enhanced warfighting capability.
PEO Ships, the US Department of Defense programme office responsible for naval ship acquisition, oversees the development and procurement of the destroyer.
Alongside DDG 132, Bath Iron Works is currently constructing several other Arleigh Burke-class ships.
These include the Flight IIA destroyers Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), as well as the Flight III ships Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), William Charette (DDG 130), John E. Kilmer (DDG 134), and Richard G. Lugar (DDG 136).
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