On May 21, 2026, fabrication began of the future USS Thomas G. Kelley.
DDG 140 is the 48th of its class built at Bath Iron Works and the seventh Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer to start construction at the Maine shipyard. Advancements in radar and combat systems make Flight III Arleigh Burkes the most technologically advanced surface combatants in the world. The ship’s namesake, retired Navy Capt. Thomas Kelley, a Medal of Honor recipient for heroism in in the Vietnam War, attended the Start of Fabrication ceremony, today.
BIW President Charles F. Krugh, stated, “Bath Iron Works is proud of its mission to build the finest surface combatants for the U.S. Navy,” Krugh said. “We take seriously our responsibility to adapt and evolve so we remain on the cutting edge of ship construction, building ships on schedule and with BIW quality so they perform when called upon – much as a young Lt. Kelley did while commanding a column of river assault craft in Vietnam.”