Bath Iron Works, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a US Navy contract to construct the fifth DDG 51 destroyer as part of a multi-year award announced in September 2018.
During the multi-year competition, Bath Iron Works (BIW) was officially awarded four ships. Subsequently, the US Navy held a separate competition for an option ship as part of an ongoing commitment to grow its fleet. The Arleigh Burke-Class destroyer will be funded through the 2019 budget.
“Bath Iron Works is privileged to continue producing state-of-the-art surface combatants for the longest running naval shipbuilding program in our nation’s history,” said Dirk Lesko, President of Bath Iron Works.
“This award demonstrates the vital role the DDG 51 plays in the security posture of the United States and the confidence the Navy has in our shipyard to produce these important assets.”
Currently, there are five DDG 51 destroyers in production at Bath Iron Works: Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Carl M. Levin (DDG 120), John Basilone (DDG 122), Harvey C. Barnum (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127).
The shipyard’s backlog also includes Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126) and the five ships that form part of the multi-year contract awarded last autumn. BIW will also build the third Zumwalt-class destroyer, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002).
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