The future USS Frank E Petersen Jr was launched on July 13 at Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard.
The ship is being configured as a flight IIA destroyer, which enables power projection, forward presence, and escort operations at sea in support of low intensity conflict, coastal and littoral offshore warfare as well as open ocean conflict.
Equipped with the Navy's Aegis combat system Baseline 9, the vessel will provide cooperative engagement capability, allowing for integrated air and missile defence.
This system delivers quick reaction time, high firepower, and increased electronic countermeasures capability for anti-air warfare.