The Arleigh Burke class is the U.S. Navy's long-running DDG 51 guided-missile destroyer family, built around the Aegis Weapon System, Mk 41 vertical launch cells, gas-turbine propulsion, and multi-mission air, surface, subsurface, ballistic-missile-defense, and land-attack roles. The class entered service with USS Arleigh Burke in 1991, spans Flight I through Flight III hulls, and continues in production with the Flight III configuration centered on AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis Baseline 10.
U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Thomas Hudner, USS Delbert D. Black, and USS Spruance, fired Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in support of Operation Epic Fury against Iran in 2026.
The U.S. Navy groups DDG 51 hulls by flight: original Flight I ships, Flight II ships, helicopter-capable Flight IIA ships, and Flight III ships centered on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flight I | Original DDG 51 design | The Navy identifies DDGs 51-71 as Flight I ships. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51) |
| Flight II | Second production flight | The Navy identifies DDGs 72-78 as Flight II ships. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51) |
| Flight IIA | Expanded aviation-capable flight | The Navy identifies DDGs 79-124 and DDG 127 as Flight IIA ships; its fact file lists two LAMPS Mk III MH-60R helicopters for Flight IIA and III ships. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51) |
| Flight III | AN/SPY-6 and Aegis Baseline 10 flight | The Flight III baseline begins with DDGs 125-126 and continues with DDG 128 and follow; the Navy describes the upgrade as centered on AN/SPY-6(V)1 for integrated air and missile defense. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51), USS Jack H Lucas Commissions in the Sun State at Port Tampa Bay |
The DDG 51 fact file lists the class's carried weapons in its armament summary, including the Standard Missile family, ESSM, Vertical Launch ASROC, Tomahawk, and six MK-46 torpedoes from two triple tube mounts.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Ship self-defense missile | The DDG 51 fact file lists Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile in the Arleigh Burke-class armament alongside the class's Mk 41 vertical launch battery. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51) |
 | Surface-to-air missile | The DDG 51 fact file lists the Standard Missile family in the Arleigh Burke-class armament, placing SM-2-family fleet air-defense missiles within the class's vertical-launch weapon set. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51) |
 | Ballistic missile defense interceptor | The DDG 51 fact file ties Aegis Baseline 9 ships to ballistic missile defense and lists the Standard Missile family in the class armament, supporting SM-3 as part of the Aegis BMD missile relationship for capable ships. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51) |
 | Multi-mission fleet air-defense missile | The DDG 51 fact file lists the Standard Missile family in the Arleigh Burke-class armament and describes the class's air-warfare and missile-defense roles, supporting SM-6 as a Standard-family missile relationship for modern Aegis ships. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51) |
 | Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo | The DDG 51 fact file lists six MK-46 torpedoes from two triple tube mounts in the class armament summary. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51) |
 | Anti-submarine missile | The DDG 51 fact file lists ASROC in the Arleigh Burke-class armament summary, and the VLA fact file identifies the missile as a surface-ship launched anti-submarine weapon carried by Aegis-equipped destroyers with Mk 41 VLS. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51), Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket ASROC (VLA) Missile |
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Long-range land-attack cruise missile | Navy sources state the DDG 51 class houses Tomahawk in its Mk 41 VLS, and the Tomahawk fact file says the missile is launched from U.S. Navy surface ships. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51), Tomahawk Cruise Missile |
The DDG 51 fact file describes the Arleigh Burke class around the integrated Aegis Weapon System, with Aegis Baseline 9 ships adding ballistic-missile-defense capability and Flight III ships centered on enhanced integrated air and missile defense.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Shipboard integrated combat system | The Navy describes the Arleigh Burke class as built with the integrated Aegis Weapon System; the Aegis fact file also ties Flight III destroyers to Aegis Baseline 10 integration. Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51), AEGIS Weapon System |
The Navy fact file lists USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) as deployed on July 4, 1991, establishing the class in U.S. Navy service.
Sources: Destroyers (DDG 51), AEGIS Weapon System
The Navy's Aegis fact file says the DDG 51 line restarted in fiscal year 2010 to continue production of the platform after the original acquisition program.
Sources: AEGIS Weapon System
NAVSEA reported that the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) had its keel authenticated as the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in the Flight III configuration.
Sources: Keel Authenticated for First Flight III Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer
USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) commissioned at Tampa, Florida, bringing the first Flight III, AN/SPY-6(V)1, and Aegis Baseline 10 Arleigh Burke destroyer into commissioned service.
Sources: USS Jack H Lucas Commissions in the Sun State at Port Tampa Bay
