American shipbuilders Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Shipbuilding Division (HII Ingalls) and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (GD BIW) have been awarded contracts to build a total of nine Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
As explained, HII Ingalls has been awarded a fixed-price-incentive firm target (FPIF) contract for the design and construction of six DDG 51 class ships, six in FY 2023-2027.
On the other hand, GD BIW has secured a FPIF contract for the design and construction of three DDG 51 class ships, three in FY 2023-2026.
These multiyear procurement awards are for nine MYP ships. Additionally, each shipbuilder’s contract contains options for additional ships over the next five years
“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,” said 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!”
“These contract awards will allow the Navy to continue delivery of lethal capacity in an affordable and effective manner,” said Frederick J. Stefany , acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition.
“The Navy saved $830 million for these nine ships through multiyear procurement contracts and also has options for additional ships to accelerate delivery of the critical DDG 51 Flight III capabilities to our naval force.”
“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,” said Capt. Seth Miller , DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships.
The destroyers are being procured in a Flight III configuration, rincluding Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability with the AN/SPY6(V)(1) Air and Missile Defense Radar. The US Navy’s first Flight III destroyer, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), was delivered by HII Ingalls in June 2023.
Ingalls has delivered 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy including the first Flight III, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), in June of this year. In addition, Ingalls Shipbuilding has four Flight IIIs currently under construction including Ted Stevens (DDG 128), which is set to be christened this month. Additionally, Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131) and Sam Nunn (DDG 133) are also under construction at Ingalls.