BATH, Maine — The U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works a $13 million contract modification to fund the first year of design work for a new radar system for the DDG 51-class of destroyers.
Known as “Flight III,” the new system and related infrastructure will replace the existing radar with air and missile defense radar on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, according to the Navy.
First commissioned in 1991, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have undergone several upgrades, including the “Flight IIa” upgrade that added helicopter hangars and increased the ship’s length, according to a shipyard spokesman.
BIW spokesman Matt Wickenheiser said Tuesday that the design work is expected to take two-and-a-half to three years, and will not result in additional hires.
The design work will be performed largely at BIW’s Brunswick facilities, with about 28 percent to be completed in Bath.
Wickenheiser said new blast and paint facilities and a new outfitting hall at the Bath yard will help support the radar upgrades.