Fabrication Begins on USS John F. Lehman, Flight III Destroyer
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has started fabrication of the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137), the U.S. Navy's seventh Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The ship will feature the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system. HII is using a distributed shipbuilding model, outsourcing structural unit fabrication to six partner yards across four states while focusing final assembly in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The company plans to outsource over 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026.
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HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding Begins Fabrication of USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137)
HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division has started fabrication of the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137), an Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided-missile destroyer for the US Navy. This marks the formal start of construction for the seventh Flight III destroyer built by Ingalls. The project uses HII's distributed shipbuilding model, with six partner yards across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida producing core structural components. This allows Ingalls to focus on final assembly and integration at its Pascagoula, Mississippi yard. The Flight III destroyer features the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, providing enhanced anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defense capabilities. HII plans to outsource over 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026 to strengthen the naval industrial base. Ingalls is currently building five Flight III destroyers, with seven more in planning or procurement.
Naval TechnologyHII's Ingalls Shipbuilding Begins Fabrication of Future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137)
HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division has commenced fabrication of the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137), the US Navy's seventh Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. The milestone follows implementation of a distributed shipbuilding model, with six partner yards across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida producing core structural components. This allows Ingalls to focus on final assembly and integration at its Pascagoula, Mississippi facility. The Flight III destroyer features advanced technologies including the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defence Radar (AMDR) system and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, enhancing anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defense capabilities. Ingalls is currently building five Flight III destroyers, with seven more in early planning stages. HII plans to outsource over 2.5 million shipbuilding hours in 2026 to strengthen the naval industrial base.
Naval TechnologyHII's Ingalls Shipbuilding Begins Fabrication of USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137)
HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division has started fabrication of the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and the seventh Flight III vessel undertaken by Ingalls. The event marks the formal start of construction under the US Navy's Flight III program. The project utilizes HII's distributed shipbuilding model, with six partner yards across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida producing core structural components, allowing Ingalls to focus on final assembly and integration in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Flight III destroyers feature the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defence Radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, offering enhanced anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defense capabilities. Ingalls is currently building five Flight III destroyers, with seven more in planning. HII plans to outsource over 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026 to strengthen the naval industrial base.
Naval TechnologyHII Begins Fabrication of Flight III Destroyer John F. Lehman (DDG 137)
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has begun fabrication of the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137), marking the official start of construction on the US Navy's newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The milestone leverages HII's distributed shipbuilding model, which expands capacity by shifting fabrication of major structural units to six partner yards across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. This allows Ingalls to focus on final assembly and integration. DDG 137 is the seventh Flight III destroyer to be constructed at Ingalls. These ships feature the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar system and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system. Ingalls currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction and seven more in early pre-planning. HII plans to outsource over 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026 under this distributed strategy.
Naval NewsHII Begins Fabrication of Flight III Destroyer John F. Lehman (DDG 137)
Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division has begun fabrication of the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137), the U.S. Navy's newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The milestone marks the official start of construction and leverages HII's distributed shipbuilding model, which expands capacity by shifting fabrication of major structural units to six partner yards in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. This allows Ingalls to focus on final assembly and integration. DDG 137 is the seventh Flight III destroyer built at Ingalls, featuring the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system. Ingalls currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction and seven more in early planning stages. HII plans to outsource over 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026 to support industrial base resiliency.
Naval NewsHII Begins Fabrication of Flight III Destroyer John F. Lehman (DDG 137)
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has begun fabrication of the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137), marking the official start of construction on the U.S. Navy's newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The milestone leverages HII's distributed shipbuilding model, which expands capacity by shifting fabrication of major structural units to six partner yards across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. This allows Ingalls to focus on final assembly and integration. DDG 137 is the seventh Flight III destroyer built at Ingalls, featuring the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system. Ingalls currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction and seven more in early planning stages. HII plans to outsource over 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026 to support industrial base resiliency.
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