The US Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works with an additional option ship contract for a fifth DDG 51 destroyer, the shipyard's parent corporation General Dynamics announced Friday.
In late November, BIW won a separate, multi-year competition contract worth $3.9 billion to build four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
"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 BIW President Dirk Lesko. "This award demonstrates the vital role the DDG 51 plays in the security posture of the United States."
Five DDG 51 destroyers are already in production at BIW:
- Daniel Inouye (DDG 118)
- Carl M. Levin (DDG 120)
- John Basilone (DDG 122)
- Harvey C. Barnum (DDG 124)
- Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127)
Additionally, the shipyard's backlog includes the Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), and BIW is also building the Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002).
