Sea trials with missile firing for Frank E. Petersen Jr. DDG 121 Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA destroyer.

According to information published by Huntington Ingalls on August 27, 2021, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Shipbuilding division announced the successful completion of builder’s trials for guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121). The Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA destroyer spent three days in the Gulf of Mexico testing the ship’s combat system, which included firing a missile.
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HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division successfully completes builder’s trials for guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121). (Picture source Huntington Ingalls)

The USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121) is an Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer built for the United States Navy. The contract for the construction of the ship was first announced in a press release from Huntington Ingalls Industries on March 30, 2016. The keel of the ship was laid on 21 February 2017. She was launched on July 13, 2018. and was christened on October 6, 2018.

The Arleigh Burke is a class of guided missile destroyers (DDG) in service with the United States Navy built around the Aegis Combat System, an American integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin. The Flight IIA Arleigh Burke ship has several new features including two hangars for antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, and a new, longer 5-inch/62-caliber (127 mm) Mark 45 Mod 4 naval gun.

Huntington Ingalls has delivered 32 destroyers to the Navy and currently has four more under construction including Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129).

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection — all in support of the United States military strategy. The guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface, and subsurface battles. The ship contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense well into the 21st century.

The USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. is powered by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines developing 100,000 shp. She can reach a top speed of 31 knots (57 km/h). 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.