U.S. Navy funds new destroyers

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BATH, Maine, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has awarded $1.8 billion to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works to build two Zumwalt class destroyers.

The DDG 1001 is to be delivered in December 2015 and DDG 1002 is to be delivered in February 2018.

"This contract enables us to maintain a strong base of quality shipbuilding jobs in Maine and continue our contributions to sustaining the U.S. Navy fleet," said Jeff Geiger, president of Bath Iron Works.

"It provides Bath Iron Works with a healthy backlog of work and reflects the Navy's continued commitment to the DDG-1000 program, as well as their confidence in our ability to build and deliver all three ships of this class."

The first ship in the class, DDG-1000, is more than 50 percent complete and is to be delivered in 2014.

The DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyer is the Navy's next-generation, guided-missile destroyer. The ships will feature a low radar profile, an integrated power system and a total ship computing environment infrastructure.

They will be armed with an array of weapons to provide offensive, distributed and precision fires in support of forces ashore.

Work is under way at the Bath, Maine, shipyard on DDG 1001 and DDG 1002. The U.S. Congress previously approved funding for advanced procurement and initial construction of the ships.