Eye on the Navy
Contract Signed for Pair of DDG 1000 Ships
Zumwalt Class Coming
Navy, Industry sign contract to begin construction on two transformational destroyers
By Edward Lundquist Senior Science Advisor Alion Science and Technology
Representatives of the U.S. Navy and industry have signed a contract to begin work on a pair of lead ships of a new class of destroyer. Named Zumwalt, for former Chief of Naval Operations Elmo Zumwalt, the new ship represents a transformation in naval warfare. "It isn't everyday we get to sign a contract to begin construction of a lead ship, but on Feb. 14, we met in my office and did exactly that, twice! Not one but two lead DDG 1000 ships will now begin construction," said Rear Adm. Vic Guillory, the director for Surface Warfare. "These 14,000-ton multi-mission warships represent tremendous new capability for the Navy and the surface combatant family of ships." Two identical lead ships will be built by Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics) and Ingalls (Northrop Grumman). Bath Iron Works will build DDG 1000 and Ingalls will build DDG 1001. Other prime contractors include BAE Systems and Raytheon. Delivery of the lead ship is expected in the late 2012 to early 2013 time frame. Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is a multi-mission surface combatant which will provide a full spectrum of littoral dominance, tailored for persistent, all-weather volume fires and precision strike in the littorals. It will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, operating as an integral part of joint and coalition forces afloat and ashore, complimenting combined maritime forces across the warfighting missions of antisubmarine warfare, surface warfare, deep strike, and integrated air and missile defense. A major focus of the DDG 1000-class will be joint fire support-the ability to destroy or neutralize enemy targets ashore with all-weather, day and night precision strike and volume fires," says Guillory. "DDG 1000 will provide persistent, all-weather fire support to
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Capt. James Syring, DDG 1000 program manager, left, Rear Adm. Victor Guillory, director of surface warfare, Brian Cuccias, vice-president and DDG 1000 program manager for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ships Allison Stiller, Dirk Lesko, vice-president and DDG 1000 program manager for Bath Iron Works, and Rear Adm. Charles Goddard, program executive officer for ships stand behind a model of the DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class destroyer at a contract signing ceremony at the Pentagon. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Gates)
"When you look at DDG 1000 the technology is extraordinary. 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." -- Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations
troops, answering 90 percent of calls for fire within five minutes using her two Advanced Gun Systems. Each of these systems will be able to deliver ten rounds per minute, at ranges in excess of 63 nautical miles. Two DDG 1000 ships will deliver approximately the same firepower as an artillery battalion ashore." Zumwalt will also deliver deep strike capabilities with Tactical Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the 80cell Advanced Vertical Launching System. These ships will deploy independently or as part of a carrier or expeditionary
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