"Navy Awards Contracts for Up to 15 New Destroyers in 5-Year Deal"

The US Navy's five-year guided-missile destroyer deal, which includes the construction of nine Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyers, could potentially expand to 15 ships if Congress or the White House decides to add more hulls to the agreement. The deal, announced this week, includes options for six additional ships. The contract allows the Navy to request updated pricing from the shipbuilders before exercising the options. The cost estimate for each Flight III destroyer is approximately $2 billion. The Navy did not disclose the contract costs or the number of Flight III ships it plans to purchase before transitioning to the next-generation guided-missile destroyer DDG(X).