Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, has officially delivered the future USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127) to the US Navy, marking the completion of the Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA destroyer production line. Named after Marine Corps Cpl. Patrick Gallagher, a Vietnam War hero who received the Navy Cross posthumously, the guided-missile destroyer was completed ahead of schedule after successfully concluding sea trials that began in late April 2026. Construction started in November 2018, and the ship was launched and christened in July 2024 before being delivered more than two months earlier than anticipated. Once commissioned, DDG-127 will operate from Norfolk, Virginia.
The Arleigh Burke program spans four major variants—Flight I, II, IIA, and III—each introducing new technologies while maintaining the class’s proven design. Flight IIA ships, covering DDG-79 through DDG-124 and DDG-127, have been in production since the late 1990s and are equipped with a 96-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system along with facilities for two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. While sharing many capabilities with the latest Flight III destroyers, the Flight IIA configuration relies on the AN/SPY-1D(V) radar and earlier Aegis combat architecture. In contrast, Flight III warships incorporate the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis Baseline 10 system, delivering substantially improved performance against ballistic missile threats, drones, and other emerging challenges.
