Ramona Adams
The U.S. Navy could issue a request for proposals within the next month for a multiyear contract to build at least 10 Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers (DDG-51), USNI News reported Tuesday.
Capt. Casey Moton, DDG-51 program manager, told USNI News that the contract will run from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2022 and will include options to accelerate production if Congress approves additional shipbuilding funds.
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2018 authorizes the Navy to buy up to 15 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, but lawmakers have yet to agree on an appropriations bill to fund ship construction, the report noted.
Moton said the current FY 2018 funds align with the Navy’s budget request for two ships, however, funding could change after Congress’ final conference on the appropriations bill.
The service branch plans to award the five-year contract to General Dynamics‘ Bath Iron Works subsidiary and Huntington Ingalls Industries‘ Ingalls Shipbuilding division by the end of FY 2018.
