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US Navy Prepares to Take Delivery of its 2nd DDG 51 Flight IIA Restart - Future USS Rafael Peralta.

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Naval Forces News - USA

US Navy Prepares to Take Delivery of its 2nd DDG 51 Flight IIA Restart - Future USS Rafael Peralta

Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) returned to the Bath Iron Works shipyard Dec. 16 after successfully completing a nearly week-long series of demonstrations for U.S. Navy reviewers. Based on the performance during the sea trials, the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey recommended DDG 115 join the U.S. Navy fleet.

BATH, Maine - The future USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) successfully completed acceptance trials Dec. 16 after spending two days underway off the coast of Maine. (Photo by U.S. Navy)

DDG 115 is the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by Bath Iron Works (and second in the series) after a four-year break in the Navy’s DDG 51 program and demonstrates the versatility and craftsmanship of the shipyard’s workers. “The ship looked great and performed well. It’s a ship Bath Iron Works can be proud of,” said Bath Iron Works President Dirk Lesko. The Navy will take delivery in February and the ship will depart Bath later this spring. She joins the other 34 active Bath-built DDG 51’s in active service, including DDG-51 itself, USS Arleigh Burke. DDG 115 is named for Marine Sergeant Rafael Peralta who was killed in Iraq in the second battle of Fallujah, falling on an enemy grenade thereby shielding other members of his squad from the blast. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously. There are currently three other DDG 51 destroyers in production at Bath Iron Works: Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) and Carl M. Levin (DDG 120).

BATH, Maine (October 18, 2016) – The future USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) sets sail for the first time to conduct initial at-sea builder's trials off the coast of Maine. (Photo by General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works)

Rafael Peralta is equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System which includes an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability incorporating Ballistic Missile Defense 5.0 Capability Upgrade and Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air capability. The ship’s IAMD radar will provide increased computing power and radar upgrades that improve detection and reaction capabilities against modern air warfare threats. The Aegis Combat System will enable the ship to link radars with other ships and aircraft to provide a composite picture of the battlespace and effectively increase the theater space.