US Navy awards contracts for construction of 9 new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

On August 1, 2023, the US Navy granted two fixed-price incentive multiyear contracts for the construction of a total of 9 Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyers. The contracts have been divided, with Huntington Ingalls of Mississippi awarded one contract for the construction of 6 ships, and Bath Iron Works in Maine granted the other contract for the construction of three ships.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

The USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) is the first Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer built in the Flight III configuration (Picture source: Wikimedia)

These contracts also entail options for engineering change proposals, design budgeting requirements, and post-delivery availabilities for the awarded firm multiyear ships. Additionally, the contracts include provisions for the potential construction of additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, subject to future competition in line with the contract's terms and conditions.

As outlined in the contracts, the ship construction schedule specifies that two ships will be built during the fiscal year 2023, followed by two in 2024, two more in the fiscal year 2025, two in the fiscal year 2026, and concluding with one in the fiscal year 2027.

The DDG 51 class destroyers, also known as Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, are a group of naval vessels designed to undertake various offensive and defensive operations in maritime warfare scenarios. These ships have been an integral part of the United States Navy since their commissioning on July 4, 1991.

The destroyers are equipped with advanced technologies that enable them to carry out tasks including Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW).

In terms of armament and systems, these destroyers are equipped with a range of weaponry, including the Standard Missile Family, Vertical Launch ASROC (VLA) missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, MK-46 torpedoes, Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), 5-inch MK 45 Gun, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM). Notably, the MK-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) facilitates the launch of different missile types.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers integrate the Aegis Baseline 9 for Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capabilities, enabling them to track and intercept incoming ballistic missiles.

An important upgrade is observed in the Flight III variant with the integration of the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) system. This radar system significantly enhances the destroyer's Air and Missile Defense capabilities, allowing it to simultaneously conduct AAW and BMD operations, fulfilling the Navy's need for an advanced surface combatant Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability.