US Navy has christened future USS Carl M. Levin DDG 120 Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA missile destroyer.

According to a Tweet published on October 2, the future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer for U.S. Navy was christened at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine, on October 2, 2021. Last May, General Dynamics shipyard celebrated the launch of the future USS Carl M. Levin.
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The future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA missile destroyer for U.S. Navy was christened on October 2, 2021. (Picture source General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard)

The USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) is a United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer. The first 21 destroyers (DDG51-DDG71) of the Arleigh Burke-class are categorized as Flight I, the next seven (DDG72-DDG78) as Flight II, DDG-79 to DDG-124 are classified as Flight IIA and ships starting from Ted Stevens (DDG 125) are classified as Flight III.

In FY1994, the U.S. Navy shifted DDG-51 procurement to the Flight IIA DDG-51 design, which incorporated certain changes, including the addition of a helicopter hangar. The Flight IIA ships entered production in late 1997. A total of 40 were commissioned and are in active service and 6 ships are under construction or sea trials.

The Arleigh Burke Flight IIA ships have several new features, beginning with USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79). Among the changes is the addition of two hangars for antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, and a new, longer 5-inch/62-caliber (127 mm) Mark 45 Mod 4 naval gun (installed onto USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) and later ships). Later Flight IIA ships starting with USS Mustin (DDG-89) have a modified funnel design that buries the funnels within the superstructure as a signature-reduction measure. TACTAS towed array sonar was omitted from Flight IIA ships and they also lack Harpoon missile launchers.

The contract for the ship, along with the name, was first announced in a press release from General Dynamics, parent company of Bath Iron Works, on 31 March 2016. The official designation of DDG 120 as the Carl M. Levin by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus was announced on 11 April 2016.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are designed to provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. These ships serve as crucial assets in global maritime security, conducting anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, as well as executing long-range strike and surface fire support missions. DDG 120 will be a Flight IIA destroyer with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat Systems, including Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability.

In addition to Carl M. Levin (DDG 120), General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works (BIW) has five additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyers under construction, to include the future: USS John Basilone (DDG 122), the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124), the future USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), the future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), and the future USS William Charette (DDG 130). BIW is under contract to construct four additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with the Flight III configuration that includes enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities.