Article Posted on : - Jun 30, 2010

USS Gravely sails through the Gulf of Mexico last week during sea trial. A Northrop photo

PASCAGOULA, US (BNS): The USS Gravely (DDG 107) guided missile destroyer has successfully completed its first-ever sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico and will be delivered to the US Navy later this summer, builder of the ship Northrop Grumman has announced.

The multi-mission warship completed the acceptance trials last week. The ‘super trial’ was modified to an integrated acceptance trial to mitigate the impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Northrop said.

Several systems on board the vessel, including its communications and propulsion systems, were put to test by officials from the US Navy and the ship builder.

Any testing that could not be accomplished because of the oil spill will be achieved at a later date, a Northrop official said.

USS Gravely is the 57th Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer to be inducted in the US Navy.

The warship incorporates the Aegis combat system and the SPY-lD multifunction phased array radar. Other weapon suite of the destroyer includes the Vertical Launching System, an advanced anti-submarine warfare system, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The 510-foot, 9,500-ton USS Gravely has an overall beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas-turbine propulsion plants will power the ship to speeds above 30 knots.

Gravely will be capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles, Northrop said.