USS Mustin Arrives in Japan, Joining 7th Fleet After Five-Year Modernization

Sailors manning the rails of USS Mustin (DDG-89) marked the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer's arrival at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan on March 23, 2026, capping a five-year absence from the port where the ship once spent 15 years.

The Mustin had departed San Diego on February 23 to make the journey to Japan, having completed a major modernization period at BAE Systems where the ship underwent underwater hull preservation work, reconditioning of the engineering spaces, and upgrades to its command and control equipment. The modernization kept the destroyer in San Diego for nearly five years before its return to U.S. 7th Fleet. London-based BAE Systems performed the work in 2022 under an $89.4 million Navy contract, and living spaces aboard the ship were also refurbished.

Commissioned July 26, 2003, the Mustin is a multi-mission platform capable of conducting a wide range of operations. The destroyer is named for the Mustin family, which has a long and distinguished history of service in the U.S. Navy. The ship was previously forward-deployed to Yokosuka from 2006 to 2021 before heading stateside for its modernization work.

Mustin is now forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, the Navy's largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet's principal surface force. Squadron commander Capt. David Huljack framed the arrival in strategic terms. "Welcoming USS Mustin back to the DESRON 15 family is a significant moment for us," Huljack said. "This ship and its crew bring a renewed strength and vital capability to our surface force. Their return to the tip of the spear is a clear demonstration of our commitment to maritime security and stability in the Indo-Pacific."

The ship's commanding officer, Cmdr. Christina Appleman, pointed to the personal significance of the moment for those aboard. "Mustin Nation is proud to return to Japan," Appleman said. "Our arrival has a special meaning for our Sailors and their families. We are rejoining a phenomenal team here in the 7th Fleet, and are eager to work alongside our allies and partners in the region." On the pier, that meaning was visible: Naho Righetti held her daughter Sofia as they waited for her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Robert Righetti, to step ashore. The 7th Fleet Band played for the assembled families and guests as the destroyer came into port.

Mustin replaces Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), which departed Yokosuka and shifted to San Diego. The Robert Smalls is among 10 Ticonderoga-class cruisers remaining in the Navy and is being returned to the U.S. as the Navy works to deactivate the aging class. Past decommissioning schedules had slated the Robert Smalls for deactivation in Fiscal Year 2026, though the Navy's FY2026 deactivation list released in February made no mention of the cruiser. The ship is approximately 37 years old.

The Robert Smalls carries a notable naming history. The vessel was previously called USS Chancellorsville, after a Confederate Civil War victory, but the Navy renamed it in 2023 in recognition of Robert Smalls, a formerly enslaved boat pilot who seized a Confederate vessel during the Civil War and sailed it to Union forces.

The forward presence of the Mustin supports the United States' commitment to the defense of Japan, enhances regional deterrence, and ensures the Navy maintains a combat-credible force ready to operate in a contested environment. Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka provides critical support to U.S. 7th Fleet, the largest of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed fleets.