General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Secures $644 Million for Cutting-Edge DDG 51 Destroyer Project
The U.S. Navy has allocated financial resources for the design and development of DDG 124, the Fiscal Year 2016 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer contracted at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The contract modification valued at $644.3 million fully finances this vessel, awarded as part of a multi-year competition for DDG 51 class destroyers in 2013. The cumulative worth of the five-ship agreement is around $3.4 billion. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works operates as a division of General Dynamics.
Fred Harris, the chief executive of Bath Iron Works, remarked, “This funding enables us to persist in our initiatives related to the planning and construction of DDG 124. The dedicated workforce at Bath Iron Works is diligently striving to refine our processes as we contribute to the U.S. Navy’s crucial shipbuilding initiatives.”
At present, there are four DDG 51 destroyers undergoing production at Bath Iron Works: Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), and Carl M. Levin (DDG 120).
The Navy has designated DDG 124 as the Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., in honor of a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer who earned the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Vietnam War. Colonel Barnum has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs as well as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs).
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer functions as a multi-mission combat vessel, providing defense against a myriad of threats, including ballistic missiles. It operates to support carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious forces, and replenishment groups, offering a comprehensive suite of anti-submarine (ASW), anti-air (AAW), and anti-surface (SuW) capabilities.
Engineered for durability, the vessels feature all-steel construction and utilize gas turbine propulsion. The integration of the ships’ AEGIS combat system, the Vertical Launching System, an advanced ASW setup, two onboard SH-60 helicopters, cutting-edge anti-aircraft missiles, and Tomahawk anti-ship and land-attack missiles positions the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers as the most formidable surface combatants ever deployed.
Bath Iron Works currently employs around 6,100 personnel.
