The US Navy has awarded HII a $99-million contract to conduct field testing for the third Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer, the Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002).
Built under a 2011 contract, the final vessel in the series arrived in January 2022 for combat system activation and testing in preparation for its scheduled commissioning in 2027.
Work will be facilitated by HII’s segment Ingalls Shipbuilding, and will primarily take place at its center in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Related activities are expected to be finalized by October 2028.
“This award reflects the Navy’s continued confidence in the Ingalls team to execute the critical system test and sea trials work essential to the Navy’s phased delivery approach,” said Brian Blanchette, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding.
“Our shipbuilders are proud to help deliver DDG 1002 and prepare her for future fleet operations.”
Overhaul for Global Strike Function
The DDG 1002 is currently receiving major retrofits to integrate the Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile system, making it the force’s second platform to be equipped with the technology that could fire a non-nuclear precision-guided weapon to international targets within minutes.
The modification detaches the vessel’s forward 155mm deck guns to install four large vertical launch tubes capable of firing up to 12 warheads.
New Surface Combatant
The Zumwalt destroyer is designed to work in parallel with the US Navy’s existing Arleigh Burke warships, expanding the military’s lethality across varying theaters.
It was conceptualized in the early 2000s to provide additional reach for shore-bombardment missions.
The destroyer is powered by two 47,500-horsepower Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines with Curtiss-Wright electric generators, as well as Rolls-Royce RR4500 turbine generators with 5,100 horsepower each.
In addition to the planned hypersonic weapons, the 610-foot (186-meter) platform can deploy multi-domain missiles from 80 standard cells distributed across its deck.
A Zumwalt can carry more than 140 sailors, three unmanned aerial systems, and maritime helicopters similar to the MH-60 Seahawk.
The vessel moves at 30 knots (35 miles/56 kilometers per hour) and has a range of approximately 4,500 nautical miles (5,179 miles/8,334 kilometers).