U.S. modernizes naval fleet

The United States continues to modernize its naval fleet by introducing new advanced destroyers to replace aging cruisers as its chief adversary, China, builds more warships. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Why It Matters China operates the world’s largest navy by hull count with more than 370 vessels. Over the past year, the Chinese military boosted shipbuilding by launching new warships, including a stealth frigate and an amphibious assault ship capable of launching aircraft. Facing China’s rapidly growing naval presence in the Pacific, the U.S. military relies on nearly 100 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—its premier warship capable of multiple missions, in service, under construction or planned—to maintain naval dominance. While the U.S. Navy faces a pressing need to deploy its warships globally, it is retiring Ticonderoga-class cruisers, which underwent a failed modernization with cost overruns and delays. Only three of the cruisers will have service lives extended beyond fiscal 2026. What To Know The U.S. Navy received a boost to its growing Arleigh Burke-class destroyer fleet on Saturday as USS Ted Stevens completed sea trials and USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. was christened, according to their builders. Both ships are the newest Flight III variants. The Ted Stevens was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding, while the Louis H. Wilson Jr. is being constructed by General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works. During sea trials in the Gulf of America—also known as the Gulf of Mexico—the Ted Stevens tested its engineering, navigation and combat systems. It will be delivered to the Navy after completing the next phase of testing, known as acceptance trials. The Flight III is the fourth variant of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, capable of conducting anti-air and ballistic missile defense missions simultaneously, providing what the Navy described as “vastly increased capability” over the Flight IIA variant. The key upgrade of Flight III is the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) system, designed to defeat a range of missile threats. China recently unveiled four anti-ship missiles, including three that can fly at over five times the speed of sound. Meanwhile, two Ticonderoga-class cruisers, USS Philippine Sea and USS Normandy, simultaneously concluded 36 years of service during decommissioning ceremonies on Thursday at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, according to Navy announcements. Both cruisers will later be towed to a naval facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and become logistical support assets as sources of spare parts for other vessels, according to Naval News. They are expected to be either scrapped or sunk in exercises afterward. In China, naval shipbuilding continues as two Type 055 vessels—classified as large destroyers in the country but as cruisers in the U.S.—were recently spotted fitting out and under assembly, respectively, at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. According to state media, the Type 055 destroyer has a displacement of more than 12,000 tons and can carry 112 missiles for air defense, anti-ship, anti-submarine and land-attack missions. Eight vessels were commissioned between 2020 and 2023. By comparison, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Flight III variant has a displacement of 9,700 tons and 96 missile tubes. The Ticonderoga-class cruiser, being phased out for the Arleigh Burke-class, displaces 9,800 tons and is equipped with 122 missile tubes. Alex Luck, a naval analyst in Australia, said the latest imagery indicates that at least three ships of the second Type 055 destroyer batch are planned for construction in Shanghai, while another three are planned for a shipyard in Dalian, northeast China. What People Are Saying Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding said in a press release on Saturday: “During builder’s trials, the Ingalls test and trials team completed a full range of hull, mechanical and electrical tests, as well as Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar array testing. These tests are designed to validate critical system performance and ensure [USS Ted Stevens] meets or exceeds Navy requirements.” China’s Global Times reported in February 2024: “Type 055 large destroyers can escort aircraft carriers or lead a group of warships in far sea operations, experts said, noting that the warships will play significant roles in safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and development interests. Observers speculated that China would likely build and commission more Type 055 large destroyers What Happens Next It remains to be seen how the U.S. Navy will further strengthen shipbuilding and maintenance capabilities as China continues to build ships for its fast-growing navy. HON BRIAN SCAVO