USS Arleigh Burke is the lead ship of the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers. These ships were the first destroyers in the world equipped with the AEGIS Weapons Systems.

USS Arleigh Burke was the first U.S. Navy ship designed to incorporate shaping techniques to reduce radar cross-section to reduce their detectability and likelihood of being targeted by enemy weapons and sensors. Originally designed to defend against Soviet aircraft, cruise missiles, and nuclear attack submarines, this higher capability ship is to be used in high-threat areas to conduct antiair, antisubmarine, antisurface, and strike operations.