Article Posted on : - Sep 27, 2011

DDG 51 destroyer.

WASHINGTON (BNS): US Navy on Monday has awarded a contract for the designing and construction of a new Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer, class ship to General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).

General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works (BIW) has received $679 million fixed-price-incentive contract for DDG 115 construction where as HII was awarded a $697.6 million fixed-price-incentive contract for DDG 114 construction.

"These awards, including DDG 113 through DDG 116, deliver on Adm. [Gary] Roughead's determination to restart DDG 51 production, providing increased Air and Missile Defense for our future fleet and strengthening our industrial base - all the while, leveraging competition, incentivizing greater productivity and driving down costs," Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition] Sean Stackley said in MoD press release.

DDG 114 will be capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

Each new DDG 51 guided missile destroyer will be delivered with Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability.