US Navy, WASHINGTON: The Navy has exercised contract modifications for the construction of the dual lead ships of the Zumwalt class (DDG 1000) to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. DDG 1000 and DDG 1001 are the lead ships of a class of next-generation multi-mission surface combatants tailored for land-attack and littoral dominance.
BIW was awarded a $1.4 billion cost-plus contract for the construction of DDG 1000, and NGSB was awarded a $1.4 billion cost-plus contract for construction of DDG 1001. The Navy and industry are using a thorough design-for-producibility process to pursue every opportunity to reduce cost on the DDG 1000 class without reducing key performance parameters.
The Navy's dual lead-ship strategy has reduced cost and encouraged collaboration. This approach will give the Navy information and modifications for future acquisition strategy decisions, and also addresses congressional concerns regarding maintaining the industrial base.
“When you look at DDG 1000, the technology is extraordinary,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead. “It is unique in that we have never tried to bring online so many new technologies, but the steps that have been taken and the investments that have been made have reduced the risk that is normally associated with new technology. The Zumwalt-class of ships is really quite impressive.”
DDG 1000 has been in design, development and demonstration for almost six years. The Navy has successfully, on cost and on schedule, built and tested the 10 critical technologies that provide the capabilities future ships need. The ship's detail design effort is also on cost and on schedule, and will be more complete at the start of construction next year than any other previous surface warship. This achievement is a testament to the close cooperation between both shipyards, and also between the Navy and industry.
DDG 1000 will triple naval surface fires coverage as well as tripling capability against anti-ship cruise missiles. DDG 1000 has a 50-fold radar cross section reduction compared to current destroyers, improves strike group defense 10-fold and has 10 times the operating area in shallow water regions against mines. For today's warfighter, DDG 1000 fills an immediate and critical naval-warfare gap, meeting validated Marine Corps fire support requirements.
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