The USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) is the 75th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the U.S. Navy and the first of the Flight III variant. The ship was commissioned in 2023, This latest iteration marks the fourth major technology evolution to the Burke-class since its debut in the 1990s, maintaining its status as the world’s largest and most advanced active destroyer fleet.

The Flight III variant retains the fundamental layout of the Arleigh Burke-class, with a length of approximately 155 meters and a beam of around 20 meters. Notably, the helicopter landing deck at the stern has been significantly widened compared to earlier models, this design enhancement balances both hull stability and the utilization of internal space.

As a key node in the U.S. Navy’s “Distributed Lethality” strategy, The USS Jack H. Lucas Flight III (DDG-125) is capable of multiple missions, including air defense, missile defense, anti-ship warfare and land-attack operations. It also serves as a technological testbed for the future Constellation-class frigates and the next-generation DDG(X) destroyers. The U.S. Navy plans to build at least 22 Flight III destroyers, gradually replacing earlier Burke-class warships and reinforcing its deterrence capabilities in hotspot regions such as the Western Pacific.