USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109)

USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109)

USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) – Honor, Sacrifice, and Strength at Sea

The USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) is one of the United States Navy’s formidable Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, representing a powerful blend of advanced technology, multi-mission combat capability, and deep-rooted legacy. As a Flight IIA variant, DDG-109 carries enhanced features for aviation support, undersea warfare, and ballistic missile defense, enabling it to operate effectively across all warfare domains—air, surface, sub-surface, and electronic.

Commissioned on November 13, 2010, and named in honor of Corporal Jason L. Dunham, a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient for heroism during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the destroyer exemplifies valor, service, and sacrifice. His selfless act of covering a grenade to save his fellow Marines is immortalized in this ship’s name, and his legacy continues through the missions of DDG-109.

Overview and Strategic Importance

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have formed the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet since their debut in the early 1990s. Designed around the Aegis Combat System, the class has evolved through multiple flights, with Flight IIA introducing critical improvements in aviation capability, survivability, and combat systems.

USS Jason Dunham, as the 59th ship of the class and one of the later Flight IIA units, embodies the maturity of the Arleigh Burke platform. It seamlessly integrates with joint and allied forces and plays a key role in forward-deployed naval operations, from carrier strike group defense to anti-submarine warfare and humanitarian assistance.

Ship Specifications – USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109)

• Class and Type: Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (Flight IIA)
• Hull Number: DDG-109
• Builder: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
• Laid Down: April 11, 2008
• Launched: August 1, 2009
• Commissioned: November 13, 2010
• Homeport: Naval Station Mayport, Florida

Dimensions and Displacement

• Length: 509.5 feet (155.2 meters)
• Beam: 66 feet (20 meters)
• Draft: 31 feet (9.4 meters)
• Full Load Displacement: Approx. 9,200 tons

Propulsion and Performance

• Power Plant: 4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines
• Power Output: 100,000 shaft horsepower (75 MW)
• Propulsion System: 2 shafts with controllable pitch propellers
• Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
• Range: Over 4,400 nautical miles (8,150 km) at 20 knots

The propulsion system allows rapid response capability, sustained high-speed cruising, and global reach, making DDG-109 a reliable presence in strategic waters.

Crew and Habitability

• Crew Size: Approximately 300 personnel (23 officers, 277 enlisted)
• Habitability Enhancements:
  • Improved berthing and workspaces
  • Integrated training systems
  • Better HVAC and noise reduction for extended deployments
  • Dedicated female berthing areas

Crew life aboard Jason Dunham reflects modern naval standards for comfort, efficiency, and readiness, ensuring sailors are well-supported during prolonged missions.

Armament and Warfare Capabilities

As a multi-role destroyer, Jason Dunham is equipped to conduct simultaneous offensive and defensive operations in diverse combat scenarios.

Vertical Launching System (VLS)

• Mk 41 VLS Cells: 96 cells (64 forward, 32 aft)
• Missile Types:
  • RIM-66 SM-2: Medium-range surface-to-air missile
  • RIM-174 SM-6: Long-range air and missile defense
  • RIM-162 ESSM: Short-to-medium range point defense
  • BGM-109 Tomahawk: Long-range land-attack cruise missile
  • RUM-139 VL-ASROC: Anti-submarine rocket

The VLS system provides tremendous versatility, allowing DDG-109 to tailor its loadout for specific mission sets, from deterrence patrols to kinetic strike missions.

Naval Guns and Small Arms

• Main Gun: 1 × Mk 45 Mod 4 5-inch/62-caliber naval gun
  • Effective against surface threats, aerial targets, and shore bombardment
• Close-In Defense:
  • 1 × Phalanx CIWS (20 mm Gatling gun) for last-resort missile defense
  • 2 × Mk 38 Mod 2 25 mm autocannons
  • .50 caliber machine guns and M240 mounts for asymmetric threats

Torpedoes and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

• Torpedo Launchers: 2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes (port and starboard)
• Torpedoes: Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes
• Sonar Suite:
  • AN/SQS-53C hull-mounted sonar
  • AN/SQR-19 TACTAS (Tactical Towed Array Sonar)
  • AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III system integration

Combined with its embarked helicopters, Jason Dunham has robust capabilities to detect and neutralize undersea threats in both deep and littoral waters.

Aviation Capabilities

• Flight Deck and Hangars: Dual hangars and a reinforced flight deck
• Helicopter Support: 2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
• Aviation Mission Sets:
  • ASW with dipping sonar and torpedoes
  • Surface warfare with Hellfire missiles
  • Search and rescue
  • Over-the-horizon targeting and ISR

Aviation integration significantly extends the destroyer’s operational reach, responsiveness, and adaptability in joint operations.

Sensors and Electronic Systems

Radar Systems

• AN/SPY-1D(V): 3D phased array radar (part of Aegis)
  • Provides real-time tracking of multiple air and missile targets
• AN/SPS-67(V): Surface search radar
• AN/SPQ-9B: Fire control radar for gun and CIWS accuracy

Combat Management and Fire Control

• Aegis Combat System (Baseline 7 Phase 1)
• Mk 99 Fire Control System
• Mk 160 Gun Fire Control System

These systems create a fully networked, integrated combat environment allowing for split-second decision-making and response to complex threats.

Electronic Warfare and Decoys

• AN/SLQ-32(V)3: Electronic surveillance and countermeasures suite
• Mk 36 SRBOC: Chaff and flare launching system
• Nulka Active Decoy System: Offboard, rocket-propelled radar decoy
• AN/SLQ-25 Nixie: Torpedo countermeasure system

This electronic warfare suite helps protect the ship from modern anti-ship missiles and submarine-launched torpedoes.

Command Role and Mission Readiness

USS Jason Dunham has supported a wide range of missions across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern theaters. It is capable of serving as the flagship for surface action groups, providing command and control for smaller naval task units, and integrating seamlessly with allied maritime forces during NATO or multinational exercises.

Its mission types include:

• Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD)
• Maritime Interdiction and Security Operations
• Precision Land Strike
• Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Escort
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
• Counter-piracy and Anti-Narcotics Missions

Notable Deployments

Since its commissioning, DDG-109 has participated in major operations such as:

• NATO’s Standing Maritime Group deployments
• Operation Inherent Resolve
• Maritime security patrols in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea
• Joint training exercises with allied navies including those of the UK, France, and Italy

These deployments showcase the ship’s readiness and effectiveness in multi-national cooperative defense environments.

The Legacy of Corporal Jason L. Dunham

Corporal Jason Dunham was serving with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in Iraq when, during an ambush in 2004, he used his helmet and body to shield fellow Marines from a grenade, ultimately sacrificing his life. He became the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the Iraq War. His heroism inspired the ship’s motto: “Unto the Last.”

Sailors aboard DDG-109 are reminded daily of their namesake’s courage and carry forward his legacy of leadership, honor, and selflessness.

Conclusion

The USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) exemplifies the U.S. Navy’s core values—honor, courage, and commitment—while embodying next-generation naval capability. As a late-model Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, it remains a cornerstone of U.S. maritime strategy, capable of engaging any threat across the globe. Its ability to operate independently or in complex joint environments makes it a flexible, formidable tool of American sea power.

Whether providing humanitarian aid, executing precision strikes, or defending aircraft carriers and allies from air and missile attacks, Jason Dunham is always ready. Fueled by a legacy of heroism and manned by some of the Navy’s finest, DDG-109 stands watch—undaunted, unrelenting, and resolute.