Media: New US destroyer set to shift naval power dynamics photo

In September 2025, the U.S. Navy officially commissioned the USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126), a state-of-the-art destroyer poised to redefine the balance of power at sea.

According to Slash Gear, the ship’s standout feature is its revolutionary SPY-6 radar system, designed to detect, identify, and track targets with unmatched precision.

Developed by Raytheon Missiles & Defence (RTX division), SPY-6 is already deployed on seven types of U.S. Navy vessels. 

Wes Kremer, the company’s president, described the radar as having “incredible range and sensitivity,” capable of providing simultaneous defence against missiles, air threats, and surface targets.

SPY-6 is built from modular radar nodes that can be scaled to suit the size and mission of any given ship. Integrated with the AEGIS combat system, it enables rapid data transmission to the crew, allowing instant responses to threats ranging from cruise missiles to hypersonic projectiles.

The radar is 30 times more powerful than its predecessor, SPY-1, and is fortified against electronic warfare, making it the centrepiece of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation defence.

The Arleigh Burke Flight III-class destroyer measures 152 meters in length, can reach speeds exceeding 55 km/h, and carries an extensive arsenal, including MK 48 torpedoes, Harpoon missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and RM missiles. Its primary mission is to protect aircraft carrier groups from air, surface, and submarine threats.

USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. is the latest addition to the Arleigh Burke class, the world’s largest destroyer class, with more than 70 ships already serving in the U.S. Navy.

By Tamilla Hasanova