Thomas Hudner completes builder's trials

The US Navy's future USS Thomas Hudner has successfully completed builder's trials, NAVSEA announced on 2 April.

The vessel is being built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW).

Builder's trials included a series of in-port and at-sea demonstrations that allowed BIW and the navy to assess the ship's systems and its readiness for delivery. 

The DDG 51 class ships currently being built are Aegis Baseline 9 Integrated air and missile defence destroyers with increased computing power and radar upgrades that improve detection and reaction capabilities against modern air warfare and ballistic missile defence threats. The Aegis Combat System will enable Thomas Hudner to link radars with other ships and aircraft to provide a composite picture of the battlespace. 

The vessel will return to sea to conduct acceptance trials with the navy's Board of Inspection and Survey later this spring where all systems and gears will be inspected and evaluated to ensure quality and operational readiness prior to delivery.

Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office Ships, said: ‘With the successful completion of these trials, we move closer to adding DDG 116 and her exceptional capabilities to the fleet. The navy and industry team worked diligently to ensure the ship operates at peak performance.’