BIW wins $22.7M contract to continue planning services for Zumwalt destroyers

File photo / Courtesy, Bath Iron Works The USS Lyndon B. Johnson, the third and final Zumwalt destroyer, is shown sailing away from Bath Iron Works in 2022.

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By William Hall

Bath Iron Works has been awarded a contract worth $22.7 million to continue planning yard services for the Navy's three existing Zumwalt-class destroyers.

The services cover design, kitting of materials, logistics, planning and execution, and most of this work will be done in Maine, according to a news release.

The contract includes options which, if exercised and fully funded by the Navy, would bring the total value of the agreement to $343.7 million and extend its performance period through 2029.

The 610-foot-long warships — the first of which, DDG 1000, was named after the late Adm. Elmo Zumwalt — are the Navy's newest guided missile destroyers. Intended for close-to-shore operations and land attack, the Zumwalt-class ships incorporate a distinctive stealth design that minimizes radar visibility.

BIW built all three Zumwalts. The third and final one, the USS Lyndon B. Johnson, sailed away in 2022.

Bath Iron Works currently also manages post-delivery maintenance and modernization for DDG 51-class destroyers. In total, BIW is currently responsible for supporting 76 surface combatants in the Navy fleet.

With 6,600 employees, the company is a subsidiary of Virginia-based defense contractor General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) and has its headquarters and primary facilities in Bath.

“We appreciate the confidence of our U.S. Navy customer that this contract renewal represents,” said BIW President Charles Krugh. “The DDG 1000 class are remarkably advanced platforms and we are committed to ensuring their maintenance and modernization so they can contribute the U.S. fleet’s capabilities for years to come.”