US Navy Awards Ingalls and Bath Iron Works Multi-Year Contract for Arleigh Burke Destroyers

The U.S. Navy has awarded contracts to Ingalls Shipbuilding and Bath Iron Works to build a total of nine Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided-missile destroyers over the next five years. Ingalls Shipbuilding will construct six of the destroyers, while Bath Iron Works will build the remaining three. The Flight III destroyers, equipped with the AN/SPY-6 Air and Missile Defense Radar, will replace the Ticonderoga-class cruisers as the primary air defense platform for carrier strike groups. The contracts were awarded through a limited competition to ensure the best price for the government and taxpayers. The total value of the contract was not disclosed.