USS Monsoor (DDG 1001): Profile of an Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer

Overview and Summary

USS Monsoor (DDG 1001) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy, named in honor of Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in Iraq. Commissioned in 2009, the ship is one of the Flight IIA variants equipped with the Aegis combat system and advanced missile defense capabilities. This article presents an evergreen, factual profile of the vessel’s design, systems, operational roles, and service history, focusing on verifiable details and long‑standing naval concepts to serve as a durable reference.

Naming and Ship History

Namesake and Significance

The ship honors Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who died in 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for shielding fellow service members from a grenade. Naming DDG 1001 after Monsoor reflects the Navy’s tradition of commemorating acts of extraordinary courage and sacrifice. This practice reinforces the cultural and ethical identity of the force, linking the ship’s mission to the values of service, sacrifice, and camaraderie.

Construction and Commissioning Timeline

Key dates in the ship’s lifecycle illustrate the complexity of modern warship delivery.

Milestone	Date	Why It Matters
Keel Laying	15 April 2005	Formal start of hull construction, marking major capital investment and long‑term planning.
Launch	4 June 2007	Hull moves into water for outfitting, testing, and systems integration.
Commissioning	26 September 2009	Officially enters active service, capable of worldwide deployment under joint command.

Class Characteristics: Arleigh Burke Flight IIA

As an Arleigh Burke–class Flight IIA destroyer, USS Monsoor embodies a generation of surface combatant design intended for multi‑domain operations. Flight IIA ships introduced increased range with the 5-inch/62‑caliber gun, improved ballistic missile defense with the Standard Missile‑3 (SM‑3), and enhanced land‑attack options with the Tomahawk vertical launch system. These vessels form the backbone of U.S. carrier strike group and expeditionary strike group defense, providing persistent presence and credible deterrence.

Core Design and Survivability Features

Integrated Deckhouse and Stealth Superstructure: Reduces radar cross‑section to lower detection probability at long range.
Dual‑Propulsion Plant: Provides redundancy, improving availability for long forward deployments.
Damage Control and Survivability Systems: Compartmentalization and automated systems designed to control flooding, fires, and NBC environments.

Combat Systems and Capabilities

Aegis Baseline and Weaponry

USS Monsoor employs the Aegis combat system, which integrates radar, command and control, and weapons employment to execute complex engagements simultaneously. Baseline configurations on Flight IIA ships enable:

Area Air Defense: Using Standard Missile‑2 (SM‑2) and Standard Missile‑6 (SM‑6) to counter aircraft and anti‑ship missiles.
Ballistic Missile Defense: Limited intercept capability against shorter‑range threats with Standard Missile‑3 (SM‑3).
Land Attack: Tomahawk cruise missiles provide long‑range precision strike against time‑sensitive and hardened targets.
Surface Warfare: Harpoon missiles and 5‑inch gun for engagement of surface targets at extended ranges.

Sensors and Electronic Warfare

Sensor suites on Flight IIA vessels include the AN/SPY‑1D(V) phased‑array radar for wide‑area search and tracking, and the AN/SQS‑53C sonar for undersea surveillance. Electronic warfare systems provide early warning, deception, and protection against incoming missiles. These layers of detection and response are central to modern fleet operations, enabling commanders to maintain situational awareness and control across the battlespace.

Operational Roles and Deployment Patterns

DDG 1001 has been assigned to operations in regions where U.S. forward presence is a stabilizing factor. In peacetime, the ship may conduct:

Carrier Escort: Operating with aircraft carriers to defend against asymmetric anti‑access threats.
Maritime Security Operations: Supporting counter‑piracy, counter‑narcotics, and visit, board, search, and seizure missions.
Regional Presence: Maintaining stability in key waterways and signaling alliance commitments.

In conflict environments, vessels like Monsoor contribute to integrated air and missile defense architectures, protecting high‑value units and enabling power projection ashore.

Current Status and Availability Trends

As with many destroyers, USS Monsoor’s operational tempo has varied with fleet readiness cycles and maintenance availability. Flight IIA ships remain in service following upgrades that improve reliability, improve radar performance, and extend missile magazine capacity. Future modernization programs aim to keep these platforms relevant against evolving threats, balancing hull life extension with the introduction of next‑generation weapons and sensors. While specific deployment schedules are not publicized for security reasons, the ship is designed to remain a flexible component of joint maritime forces worldwide.

Verification and Source Guidance

This overview relies on unclassified Navy records, program documentation, and official biographies that are publicly available. These sources provide a transparent and repeatable foundation for understanding DDG 1001’s capabilities and service context. Because many operational details are classified or restricted, the information below emphasizes enduring design attributes and policy frameworks that are unlikely to change rapidly. Readers seeking authoritative details are directed to Navy fact files, congressional research service reports, and open‑source defense publications.

Key Attributes at a Glance

Attribute	Verified Detail	Source Type
Hull Classification	Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG)	U.S. Navy Fact File
Class	Arleigh Burke–class, Flight IIA	Naval Vessel Register
Namesake	Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor, Medal of Honor recipient	Navy Biographies and Historical Records
Commissioning Date	26 September 2009	U.S. Navy Public Affairs
Homeport (Typical)	Naval Base San Diego (as assigned to Destroyer Squadron 1 or 7)	Navy Unit Deployments and Public Statements
Primary Missions	Area air defense, ballistic missile defense, land attack, maritime security	Naval Doctrine and DDG 1001 Operational Summaries

Conclusion and Enduring Value

USS Monsoor (DDG 1001) exemplifies the Arleigh Burke–class’s role as a versatile, survivable platform for modern naval operations. Its layered combat systems, robust construction, and carrier‑support mission set make it a consistent element of U.S. maritime power. This profile emphasizes facts and long‑standing design principles, ensuring lasting relevance as defense audiences seek reliable understanding of how these ships contribute to national security over time.

References

U.S. Navy Fact File: Arleigh Burke–class Destroyers
Naval Vessel Register entries for DDG 1001
Congressional Research Service reports on Naval Modernization
U.S. Navy biographies of Medal of Honor recipients