Congratulations, shipbuilders! Fabrication has officially begun on the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137), marking the start of construction on the Navy's newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
The milestone marks the next chapter in this shipyard’s legacy of building the nation's most advanced surface combatants and reflects the teamwork of shipbuilders across the yard and partners throughout the Gulf Coast.
Construction is already underway across a network of partner shipyards as part of HII's distributed shipbuilding strategy. While partner yards fabricate major structural units, Ingalls shipbuilders remain focused on final assembly, integration and delivering a warship ready to serve the fleet.
"Our Ingalls shipbuilders have worked hard to reach fabrication start on DDG 137, and by focusing our teams and facilities on final assembly and integration, our distributed shipbuilding partners are enabling us to grow the Flight III fleet," said Chris Brown, DDG51 program manager. "We know the U.S. Navy is counting on us to deliver highly capable ships, and this industry-wide effort is helping us meet that responsibility with urgency."
DDG 137 is the seventh Flight III destroyer to be built at Ingalls. Once complete, the ship will deliver enhanced air and missile defense capabilities with the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, helping the U.S. Navy counter evolving threats for decades to come.
Ingalls currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction, with seven more in early planning and material procurement.
The start of fabrication on DDG 137 is another reminder of the critical role every shipbuilder plays in delivering the capabilities our military depends on.