FALLS CHURCH (dpa-AFX) - General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a business unit of defense contractor General Dynamics Corp. (GD), said Tuesday that it has been awarded a contract valued at $2.8 billion by the U.S. Navy for the construction of four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, with an option for a fifth ship.
The option for the fifth ship, if exercised, would bring the total value of the contract to about $3.5 billion.
There are currently two DDG 51 destroyers in production at Bath Iron Works, Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) and Thomas Hudner (DDG 116). The shipyard began fabrication on DDG 115 in November 2011, and delivery to the Navy is scheduled for 2016. Fabrication on DDG 116 began in November 2012, and that ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2017.
Bath Iron Works is also building the three ships in the planned three-vessel Zumwalt-class of destroyers, Zumwalt (DDG 1000), Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) and Lyndon Johnson (DDG 1002). All three ships are progressing in construction. Bath Iron Works celebrated the keel-laying milestone for Michael Monsoor in late May, and Zumwalt is expected to be launched later this year.
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