DDG 119 Delbert D. Black

The keel of the future USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) was ceremoniously laid at the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard 01 June 2016. The ship's keel was authenticated by Ima Black, the ship's sponsor and wife of the late Delbert D. Black, and HII General Ship Superintendent Ernest Wiley. The authenticators etched their initials into the keel plate to symbolically recognize the joining of modular components and the ceremonial beginning of the ship. "Just under a year ago, Ms. Black was here with us as we began fabrication on the ship," said Capt. Mark Vandroff, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office Ships. "We've had steady production and we're honored to have her here with us today as this ship starts to come to life."

The ship will be 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. Delbert D. Black will be equipped with the Navy's Aegis Combat System, the world's foremost integrated naval weapon. The ship will also incorporate Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) that when combined with the Aegis Combat System, will permit groups of ships and aircraft to link radars to provide a composite picture of the battle space -- effectively increasing the theater space. The capability is designed to provide the Navy with a 21st century fighting edge.

HII's Pascagoula shipyard was also currently in production on the future destroyers USS John Finn (DDG 113), USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117). As one of the Department of Defense's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.