Newest U.S. Navy Destroyer Sails Alongside USS Daniel Inouye Off San Diego

The newest U.S. Navy destroyer sails alongside the USS Daniel Inouye during a passing exercise off San Diego on September 17.

The future USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), both Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, are seen underway together in open water.

Ted Stevens is the Navy’s newest Flight III destroyer and the first Navy ship named for Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, a World War II transport pilot.

The ship was delivered in December 2025 and reached its future homeport at Naval Station Norfolk in May 2026. It is scheduled to be commissioned October 3 in Whittier, Alaska.

The commissioning will be the first Navy ship commissioning in Alaska since USS Anchorage in 2013. After commissioning, Ted Stevens will return to Norfolk.