Work begins on new destroyer

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Work has begun on the Navy's next Aegis guided missile destroyer, Ralph Johnson (DDG 114). It's the 30th Arleigh Burke Class destroyer built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., part of Huntington Ingalls Industries. The start-of-fabrication milestone signifies that 100 tons of steel have been cut for DDG 114. Ingalls uses state-of-the-art robotic cutting machines to ensure the steel is cut and fabricated to exact Navy specifications. Ralph Johnson is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2017. (Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries, 09/13/13)