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The Navy intends to use multiyear contracts for future Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, as was done in past negotiations with the most recent contract in 2023, which awarded three Flight III destroyers to General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works and six to HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding.
This contract will last up until 2027, after which a new contract will be awarded, Arleigh Burke-class Program Manager Capt. Seth Miller said Wednesday at the Surface Navy Association’s conference.
The Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126), the first Flight III at Bath Iron Works is almost 70% complete, Miller said. The keel has been laid and the ship will launch later this year, he added.
Meanwhile, the Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127) -- the last Flight IIA to be built -- is almost 90% complete and is ramping up for trials next year, Miller said. Ingalls Shipbuilding is also making good progress according to Miller, with the Ted Stevens (DDG-128) about 86% done.
“The Navy's very much focused on getting those ships out, recognizing their overall importance,” Miller said. “We got 25 ships on contract right now, so lots of work to do here for the foreseeable future and continuing with the Flight III.”
The Flight III program could see delivery delays of six-to-25 months for the 13 vessels that follow the lead ship Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), the Government Accountability Office warned in a report released last June. This report followed an April shipbuilding review from the Navy, which did not highlight program issues for Flight III.
The GAO report also noted cost growth in the program, with the program office requesting an additional $290 million for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
In December, House and Senate authorizers agreed to put forth incremental funding worth $700 million to construct a new destroyer.