USS Ted Stevens Completes Sea Trials with Advanced SPY-6 Radar, Marking New Era in U.S. Naval Defense

USS Ted Stevens (DDG-128) Completes Sea Trials with SPY-6 Radar

The future U.S. Navy destroyer USS Ted Stevens (DDG-128) has successfully completed its acceptance sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico, demonstrating exceptional performance across propulsion, navigation, and advanced combat systems testing. As a Flight III Arleigh Burke–class destroyer, the vessel is the first of its kind to fully integrate the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), a revolutionary sensor system designed to dramatically improve detection, tracking, and engagement capabilities against modern threats.

The trials, conducted by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding Division in collaboration with the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), validated the destroyer’s readiness for delivery. With its completion, the USS Ted Stevens joins the next generation of surface combatants optimized for complex, multi-domain warfare environments.

SPY-6 Radar: A Game Changer for Naval Defense

At the heart of the destroyer’s advancement lies the Raytheon-developed SPY-6 radar, capable of simultaneously detecting ballistic missiles, aircraft, drones, and surface ships at far greater ranges than its predecessors. The radar employs gallium nitride (GaN) technology, offering enhanced power efficiency and scalability, with modular radar arrays that can be tailored to various ship classes.

The system marks a significant leap from the older AN/SPY-1D(V) used on earlier Arleigh Burke variants. SPY-6 can reportedly detect targets with up to 300% more sensitivity and greater resolution, providing crews with faster and more accurate tracking across multiple threat domains. This integration enables the destroyer to operate more effectively within Aegis Combat System Baseline 10, a modernized software suite that enhances interoperability with U.S. and allied forces.

The Arleigh Burke Flight III: Backbone of the Modern Fleet

The Flight III configuration, first introduced with USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), represents the most advanced and capable evolution of the long-serving Arleigh Burke class. Key upgrades include a redesigned electrical power system, improved cooling capacity, and a modified deckhouse to support the SPY-6 radar’s increased size and power demands.

With a displacement of approximately 9,700 tons, the destroyer features vertical launch cells for Standard Missiles (SM-2, SM-6), Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM). Its Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) role has been significantly strengthened, allowing it to engage both short- and intermediate-range ballistic threats.
The Flight III ships are expected to remain a cornerstone of U.S. surface combat operations through the 2040s, bridging the gap between the current fleet and future DDG(X) next-generation destroyers.

Strategic Significance and Defense Context

The completion of sea trials for USS Ted Stevens comes amid heightened global maritime competition. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) continues expanding its blue-water fleet, fielding advanced Type 055 Renhai-class destroyers equipped with powerful AESA radars and long-range missiles. The SPY-6-equipped Flight III ships are intended to preserve U.S. naval superiority, providing a decisive edge in both air and missile defense scenarios.

In recent years, the U.S. Navy has emphasized distributed maritime operations, requiring ships capable of independent yet networked action across vast theaters. The SPY-6 radar aligns with this strategy by enabling cooperative engagement, allowing ships and aircraft to share sensor data in real time — a critical feature under the Navy’s Project Overmatch and the broader Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) initiative.

The destroyer’s technological edge also strengthens defense against hypersonic glide vehicles, low-flying cruise missiles, and saturation attacks, which are becoming increasingly common in modern warfare planning scenarios.

Analysis: What It Means for U.S. Naval Defense

The USS Ted Stevens’ completion of trials signals a major technological milestone for the U.S. surface fleet. The integration of SPY-6 positions the Navy to counter the next generation of missile and aerial threats while reinforcing its Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, a key component of both homeland and regional defense networks.

Operationally, Flight III destroyers will serve as multi-mission command nodes, offering enhanced data fusion and coordination across carrier strike groups and allied coalitions. As maritime challenges grow in the Indo-Pacific, the integration of advanced sensors, precision weapons, and digital command systems will be vital for maintaining deterrence and freedom of navigation.

From a defense industry standpoint, the successful trial strengthens the U.S. Navy’s partnership with HII and Raytheon Technologies, ensuring continued production and system refinement under current and future procurement programs.

Conclusion: A Future-Ready Combatant

With the completion of its sea trials, the USS Ted Stevens (DDG-128) stands poised to enter active service as one of the most advanced surface warships in the world. Its cutting-edge SPY-6 radar and Flight III enhancements represent a generational leap in U.S. naval warfare, ensuring the fleet remains prepared for the challenges of 21st-century maritime operations.

As the U.S. Navy moves toward the deployment of DDG(X) destroyers in the 2030s, ships like the Ted Stevens will form the operational backbone of America’s global defense posture — delivering unmatched situational awareness, firepower, and resilience at sea.