USS Ted Stevens destroyer to be commissioned in October 2026

The United States Navy has announced that the USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128), an Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided-missile destroyer, is scheduled to be commissioned on October 3, 2026, in Whittier, Alaska.

Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, the vessel features significant technological upgrades over previous Arleigh Burke variants. Central to the Flight III configuration is the AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defense radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system. These advancements are designed to detect, track, and neutralize complex modern threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The ship’s enhanced electrical and cooling infrastructure supports the high power demands of the new radar system. This upgrade aims to strengthen the defense of carrier strike groups and forward-deployed forces against increasingly sophisticated coordinated attacks.