Department of Defense news release (Jan. 21, 2005): Navy funds contract option for construction of destroyer.

The Department of Defense announced today that Bath Iron Works, a unit of General Dynamics, received a $562.1 million modification to its FY02-05 DDG 51 Class multi-year contract to build the final ship of the Arleigh Burke Class. As the 34th DDG 51 Class Destroyer built by Bath Iron Works, DDG 112 represents the culmination of new construction for the U.S. Navy's AEGIS shipbuilding program and marks the beginning of a major transition for the Navy as it moves from the DDG 51 to the next generation of destroyer, the DD(X).

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John J. Young Jr., assistant secretary of the navy for research, development and acquisition, described today's action as another "landmark on the highway" of AEGIS shipbuilding.

"This is the last of 62 DDG 51 Class ships, the final act of a play that will be reviewed as one of the most successful defense acquisition programs in history," said Young. "Bath Iron Works continues to produce excellent AEGIS destroyers that will serve this nation's vital interests for decades to come. The funding of DDG 112 also continues the Navy's commitment to a multi-year procurement contract and, combined with the purchase of LPD 25, satisfies the DDG-LPD workload swap agreement, which saved the taxpayers over $500 million in shipbuilding costs."

"This extremely capable class of combatants continues to serve our nation and our Navy with distinction, and DDG 112 will carry on that proud legacy for decades to come as these ships serve as the foundation of our combatant force," said Rear Adm. Charlie Hamilton, the program executive officer for ships. "The Navy has utilized a number of acquisition tools on the AEGIS shipbuilding program, including spiral development, flight upgrades, and technology insertion. Those innovative methods have produced a great product and will continue to have a lasting impact on how we develop and acquire the best surface combatants in the world."

Like its other Arleigh-Burke Class ships, DDG 112 will be a 9,200-ton multi-mission guided missile destroyer capable of conducting a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of the National Military Strategy. DDG 112 will be capable of fighting air, surface, and subsurface battles simultaneously and will contain myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21 st century.

The ship will be built in Bath, Maine, and the Navy expects delivery in December 2010. DDG 112 will benefit from the considerable technological advancements and engineering upgrades that have been developed, tested, and installed in the class since the commissioning of DDG 51 July 1991.

For more information about this release, contact the Navy news desk, [phone].