WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works will build nine DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for the U.S. Navy.
The two separate, multiyear procurement contracts are together worth more than $5.1 billion.
The Navy said General Dynamics Bath Iron Works will design and build four DDG 51 class ships beginning this year and continuing into 2017. The contract includes an option for a fifth ship.
Huntington Ingalls Industries will construct five ships, one each year until 2017.
"These contract awards represent great value to the taxpayer and will ensure our warfighters have the ships and systems they need to prevail in any situation," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "By leveraging competition in the DDG 51 class shipbuilding program, these shipbuilders will continue their proud histories in delivering these highly capable ships to the fleet while meeting critical operational requirements for integrated air and missile defense capability."
The Navy said the destroyers will be in a Flight III configuration in which Aegis AN/SPY-1D radar is replaced with Air and Missile Defense Radar, and improved weapons and sensor suites are installed.
