Keel laid on the future Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Delbert. D. Black. Pictured, an Raleigh Burke-class destroyer in Hawaii. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Bradley Lewis

PASCAGOULA, Miss., June 2 (UPI) -- The keel of a future Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer has been laid at a Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard for the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command said a ceremony marking the official construction of the ship was held Wednesday, and that the future USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) is to be configured as a Flight IIA destroyer.


It will incorporate cooperative engagement capability which, with its Aegis Combat System, enables a groups of ships and aircraft to link their radars to provide a composite picture of a battle space.

HII's Pascagoula shipyard is currently building the future destroyers USS John Finn, USS Ralph Johnson, and USS Paul Ignatius. The USS Delbert D. Black will be the 32nd destroyer of its class built by HII for the Navy.