PASCAGOULA, Miss. - HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding announced the keel authentication of the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131) on Dec. 15.
The ship’s name honors George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran and an aviation machinist’s mate third class who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while attempting to rescue a fellow service member.
The ship’s sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Kelley Neal Gray, was in attendance and joined Ingalls Structural Welder Morris Johnson in welding her initials onto a steel plate, signifying the keel of DDG 131 as being “truly and fairly laid.” The plate will remain affixed to the ship throughout its lifetime.
George M. Neal (DDG 131) is the fourth Flight III destroyer to be constructed at Ingalls.
Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability including the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System that are designed to keep pace with the threats well into the 21st century. (HII 12/15/23)
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