Northrop Grumman Gets $1.4b DDG 1001 Contract

The U.S. Navy awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $1.4b cost plus incentive fee contract for the construction of a Zumwalt-class destroyer, DDG 1001, as well as major components for the DDG 1000. The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, a newly-formed company sector comprising the former Ship Systems and Newport News shipbuilding sectors. Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Gulfport facility will build the composite deckhouse for all DDG 1000 class destroyers; this award includes the construction of the deckhouse for DDG 1000.

This award enables construction of DDG 1001 to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009, with an expected delivery date of 2014. Fabrication of the DDG 1000 deckhouse will start in the fourth quarter of 2008. DDG 1000 is the first in a class of new U.S. Navy multi-mission surface combatants tailored for the littoral, air and sub-surface warfare. These ships will operate as part of a joint maritime fleet, assisting Marine strike forces ashore. DDG 1000's flexible design, unmatched stealth and precision volume strike make this ship an important asset to the U.S. warfighter. The DDG 1000 class ship displaces approximately 15,000 tons, is 600 ft. long, has a beam of 86 feet, a navigational draft of 28 x and a ship's crew of 148, including the aviation detachment.