WATCH: Huntington Ingalls Launches Latest Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer

Photo: Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has launched Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), the company’s 31st and latest Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyer.

Paul Ignatius was translated via Ingalls’ rail car system to a floating dry dock, which was moved away from the pier and ballasted to float the ship last Saturday.

Ingalls has delivered 28 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction at Ingalls include John Finn (DDG 113), Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) and Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121). Construction on Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017.

“The DDG 51 program provides our U.S. Navy customer and our nation a series of highly advanced and capable warships,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. “For 30 years, our talented shipbuilders have been building these much-needed, quality destroyers. Launching DDG 117 is an important milestone in the life of the ship, which will continue building toward fleet readiness in 2018.”

DDG 117 is named in honor of Ignatius, who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1967 to 1969 and was the Assistant Secretary of Defense during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration.

A video of the translation and launch is below:

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