According to information published by the U.S. DoD on June 17, 2022, the US Navy christened the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Basilone (DDG 122) during a ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
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Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John Basilone (Picture source: GDBIW)
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet, providing protection to America around the globe. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct various operations, from peacetime presence to national security, providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface domains. These elements of seapower enable the Navy to defend American prosperity and prevent future conflict abroad.
As a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, John Basilone will employ the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System, which includes Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability, delivers quick reaction time, high firepower, and has increased electronic countermeasures capability for Anti-Air Warfare.
The ship will be constructed at Bath Iron Works, a division of General Dynamics in Maine, and is expected to enter the Navy fleet in 2022. The ship will be 509 feet long, have a beam length of 59 feet, and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots.
The ship is armed with one 5 inches (127 mm)/54 caliber Mk 45 naval gun, 25 mm Mk 38 automatic cannons, four .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns, two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), two Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk 46 torpedo, 96-cell Mk 41 VLS (Vertical Launching System) able to launch RIM-66M medium-range surface-to-air missiles, BGM-109 Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles, and RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC anti-submarine missiles.
