Commissioning of Aegis Destroyer

USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), the newest in a series of advanced Aegis guided missile destroyers built for the U.S. Navy, has been commissioned in New York City. This 509.5-foot, 9,300-ton destroyer is the 34th ship of the DDG 51 program, and the 15th built by the Ingalls Operations of Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector. Aegis destroyers are equipped to conduct a variety of missions, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of national military strategy.

These multimission ships provide primary protection for the Navy's aircraft carriers and battle groups, as well as essential escort to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces, combat logistics ships and convoys. DDG 84 carries Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as Standard missiles to intercept hostile aircraft and missiles at extended ranges. Both Tomahawk and Standard missiles are launched from forward and aft vertical launching systems. DDG 84 is also equipped with the Phalanx Close-In Weapons System.
Following DDG 84, Ingalls has contracts and options to produce nine additional Aegis destroyers, with six of those ships in various stages of production.