IAM members at Bath Iron Works (BIW) in IAM District 4, Local S6 in Bath, ME, will be building an additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, one of the U.S. Navy’s most powerful ships ever put to sea.
The Navy awarded BIW a $642.5 million contract, bringing the total number of DDG-51 ships to be constructed by IAM members at BIW under a multi-year procurement to five. The total value of the contract is valued at approximately $3.4 billion.
The announcement for the fifth destroyer contract is welcomed news for IAM members. In June 2013, the Department of Defense awarded BIW a contract for four Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, with the option for a fifth. Until now, building the fifth destroyer was in doubt because of budget cuts during sequestration.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is a multi-mission ship that offers defense against a wide range of threats, including ballistic missiles. It operates in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups, providing a complete array of anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface capabilities.
