By JOC David Nagle, Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs
On August 1, Naval Sea Systems Command awarded a
$464,373,508 fixed price incentive contract to
Bath Iron Works (BIW) for the
construction of the next Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, DDG 102. The contract is the first awarded under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the Navy, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems
(NGSS) on June 17, 2002. Under the terms of the MOU, BIW transferred construction of four LPD 17 San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships to NGSS shipyards in Pascagoula, Miss. and New Orleans, in exchange for construction of four additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. This agreement is expected to produce significant cost savings for the Navy in addition to increased productivity for both companies.
DDG 102 will include a number of warfighting improvements, including the
AN/SPY-1D(V) Littoral Radar, providing significant improvements in clutter and jamming environments typical in littoral operations; Cooperative
Engagement Capability, a system which will provide real time data sharing and engagement coordination among ships within a battle group; Naval Surface Fire Support, an integrated gun system which extends the range of fire support to Marine Corps ground forces; and the Extended Range Guided Munition, which provides higher caliber, improved guidance munitions to support Marine ground forces. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are multi-mission
guided missile destroyers designed to operate offensively and defensively, independently or as units of carrier battle groups and surface action groups.
They support of underway replenishment groups and Marine amphibious task forces in multi-threat environments that include air, surface and subsurface threats. DDG 102 is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in April 2007.
Source: NAVSEA