Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

Also known as Arleigh Burke class

1989 class of American guided missile destroyers

Key facts

Name: Arleigh Burke class
Builders: Ingalls Shipbuilding Bath Iron Works
Operators: United States Navy
Preceded by: Kidd class Spruance class
Succeeded by: Zumwalt class DDG(X)
Cost: US$2.2 billion per ship (FY2024)
Built: 1988–2011, 2013–present
In commission: 1991–present
Active: Total 75 : Flight I: 21 Flight II: 7 Flight IIA: 34 Flight IIA Restart: 3 Flight IIA Technology Insertion: 9 Flight III: 1
Type: Guided-missile destroyer
Displacement: Fully loaded: Flight I: 8,300 long tons (8,400 t ) Flight II: 8,400 long tons (8,500 t) Flight IIA: 9,500 long tons (9,700 t) Flight III: 9,700 long tons (9,900 t)

Article

The Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) is a United States Navy class of destroyers centered on the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multifunction passive electronically scanned array radar. As of January 2025, 75 ships are active, with 24 more planned to enter service, making it by far the most numerous class of warship in the US Navy. The class is named after Arleigh Burke, an American destroyer admiral in World War II and later Chief of Naval Operations. With an overall length of 505 to 509.5 feet (153.9 to 155.3 m), displacement ranging from 8,300 to 9,700 tons, and weaponry including over 90 missiles, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are larger and more heavily armed than many previous classes of guided-missile cruisers.

These warships are multimission destroyers able to conduct antiaircraft warfare with Aegis and surface-to-air missiles; tactical land strikes with Tomahawk missiles; antisubmarine warfare (ASW) with towed array sonar, antisubmarine rockets, and ASW helicopters; and antisurface warfare (ASuW) with ship-to-ship missiles and guns. With upgrades to their AN/SPY-1 radar systems and their associated missile payloads as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, as well as the introduction of the AN/SPY-6 radar system, the class has also evolved capability as mobile antiballistic missile and antisatellite platforms. Arleigh Burke destroyers can also provide escort and screening towards larger warships and maritime transports, implement blockades around countries, and conduct minesweeping operations.