The DDG-51 Destroyer program is a major U.S. Navy shipbuilding acquisition program for the procurement and sustainment of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. The program encompasses the full lifecycle of these warships, including design, construction, systems integration, testing, and ongoing modernization efforts. Based on the contract data spanning from 1990 to 2003, this represents a multi-billion dollar defense acquisition program with significant long-term commitments to maintain the Navy's surface warfare capabilities.
The contract awards show primary shipbuilding work performed by Bath Iron Works in Maine and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi, with major systems integration and combat systems work by Lockheed Martin in New Jersey. Contract values range from small technical support tasks of under $100,000 to major construction and integration efforts exceeding $800 million, with performance periods typically spanning 2-5 years. Key systems contractors include Raytheon, AIL Systems, and Litton Industries providing radar, navigation, and combat systems components. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) serves as the primary contracting authority, with most awards being full and open competition rather than set-asides. Engineering services and systems integration work is commonly performed in Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland, while ship construction occurs at the contractors' shipyards in Maine and Mississippi. Contract types include both fixed-price incentive and cost-plus arrangements, reflecting the complex nature of shipbuilding and systems integration work.