DDG 125, the primary Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer constructed within the Flight III configuration, on trials [U.S. Navy photograph]
The Navy yesterday awarded multi-year development contracts for 9 DDG 51 class destroyers. Three will likely be constructed at GD Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, one every in FY 2023, 2024, and 2026. Six will likely be constructed at Huntington Ingalls Inc.’s Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss., one in FY 2023, one in FY 2024, two in FY 2025, one in FY 2026, and one in FY 2027.
Both multi-year contracts embody choices for engineering change proposals, design budgeting necessities, and post-delivery availabilities. They additionally consists of choices for the development of extra DDG 51 class ships. These could also be topic to future competitors. Therefore, says the Navy, the greenback values related to the multiyear contracts “are considered source selection sensitive information and will not be made public at this time.”
“These contract awards will allow the Navy to continue delivery of lethal capacity in an affordable and effective manner,” stated Frederick Stefany, appearing Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. “The Navy saved $830 million for these nine ships through multi-year procurement contracts and also has options for additional ships to accelerate delivery of the critical DDG 51 Flight III capabilities to our naval force.”
A NAVSEA statement says the contract choices for added ships over the following 5 years present the Navy and Congress flexibility to extend DDG 51 construct charges, if licensed and appropriated
The destroyers are being procured in a Flight III configuration, counting on a secure and mature design whereas delivering important Integrated Air and Missile Defense functionality with the AN/SPY6(V)(1) Air and Missile Defense Radar. The Navy’s first Flight III destroyer, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), was delivered by HII Ingalls in June 2023.
“These contracts will provide next-generation Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability for our future fleet while ensuring a stable shipbuilding and defense industrial base for the foreseeable future,” stated Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program supervisor, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “The Navy is proud to be teaming with the dedicated shipbuilders at HII Ingalls and GD BIW to construct and deliver these warships to the fleet.”
“Arleigh Burke class destroyers are the backbone of the surface fleet and one of the most successful shipbuilding programs in the history of the Navy,” stated Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy. “These awards provide a long term stable demand signal to the shipbuilder and industrial supply base, encouraging industry investment in the workforce. With our industry partners, we are going to continue to build them; and they will continue to secure the seas for decades to come!”
