Why destroyers like the USS Decatur remain the go-to vessel for the US

The USS Decatur (DDG-73) was unveiled at Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Sept. 9, 2026. (Kim Won-chul/Hankyoreh)

A guided-missile destroyer playing a pivotal role in US Navy operations such as defense against air and missile strikes on Wednesday was unveiled to foreign media, including the Hankyoreh, at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Though the ship was not deployed for combat against Iran, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers like this one are the backbone of the US naval surface fleet. They handle missions like defense against ballistic and cruise missiles and drones as well as long-range strikes.

The USS Decatur (DDG-73) was unveiled at Naval Station Pearl Harbor complete with the destroyer’s key equipment and operating procedures, including the bridge, 5-inch guns, vertical launching system (VLS) and torpedo launchers.

The ship’s commanding officer, Arlene V. Crews, described the Decatur as a multipurpose combat ship capable of missions ranging from defense against ballistic missiles to anti-submarine warfare with a crew of some 330.

The bow of the ship has a Mark 45 5-inch, 54-caliber naval gun and a VLS capable of firing a range of missiles. Crews did not elaborate on the specific types and quantities of the missiles on board but confirmed the vessel’s capability to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles.

On how the vessel responds to drones, a major danger in the conflict with Iran, she said the Decatur has 5-inch naval guns, VLS and other counters, adding that its underwater sensors, such as surface and airborne search radars, can detect submarines, stealth vessels and aircraft.

The Decatur has six surface-vessel torpedo tubes — three on each side. Its sonar crew said they recently conducted training using this equipment during this year’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.

Crews cited as a key strength her vessel’s ability to operate independently, saying the destroyer can serve as an autonomous asset or as part of an integrated carrier strike group. The crew is trained to execute all missions, she added.

On the American deterrence stance toward allies given the Pentagon’s limited aircraft carrier capacity in the Pacific, she said the ship was “always ready to provide credible deterrence to our partners and allies, and also to the United States.”

The Decatur recently joined this year’s RIMPAC, training for interoperability with some 30 allied and partner nations including Korea, Japan, Canada, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia. The ship participated in visit, board, search and seizure drills with the Royal New Zealand Navy by boarding another vessel.

Commissioned in 1998, the Decatur has been in service for 28 years and is undergoing maintenance and training at Pearl Harbor ahead of its next deployment.