General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a business unit of General Dynamics, have been awarded a contract by US Navy for the construction of three Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (DDG 51).
Currently, there are six DDG 51 destroyers in production at Bath Iron Works: John Basilone (DDG 122), Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127) as well as the Flight III ships Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), William Charette (DDG 130) and Quentin Walsh (DDG 132).
Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers (DDG 51)
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships that can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States military strategy.
These destroyers incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability.
Further, these destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection.
Besides, these guided missile destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. surface fleet and are capable of fighting multiple air, surface and subsurface threats simultaneously.
General Specifications
A DDG is 509 feet long with a 66-foot beam.
It weighs 9,300 tons and takes approximately four years to build.
Further, DDG class ships provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities and can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups and underway replenishment groups.
They have a crew of more than 350 sailors.
A DDG Aegis guided missile destroyer is equipped with:
- 2 MK 41 vertical launching systems
- 1 5-inch gun turret
- 2 MK 32 triple-barrel torpedo mounts
- Advanced radar and sonar systems that allow it to engage targets in the air, on the sea and underwater.
- Four gas turbine engines that can reach a maximum speed of more than 30 knot.
Source and Image Courtesy: https://www.gd.com/Articles/2023/08/01/navy-awards-general-dynamics-bath-iron-works-contract-for-three-ddg-51-destroyers
