Undated Photo of worker at General Dynamic-Bath Iron Works shipyard. BIW Photo
The unionized workforce at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works began its strike today, further delaying work on two destroyer programs when many of the issues the yard and the local union are fighting over are actually related to shipbuilding delays and trying to dig out of a backlog of work. Read More
The following is the June 8, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress.
The FFG(X) program is a Navy program to build a class of 20 guided-missile frigates (FFGs). Congress funded the procurement of the first FFG(X) in FY2020 at a cost of $1,281.2 million (i.e., about $1.3 billion). The Navy’s proposed FY2021 budget requests $1,053.1 million (i.e., about $1.1 billion) for the procurement of the second FFG(X). The Navy estimates that subsequent ships in the class will cost roughly $940 million each in then-year dollars. Read More
Following the multi-day process that includes
moving the ship from the land level facility to the dry dock which is then
slowly flooded until the ship is afloat, the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson
(DDG 1002) was launched at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard on Dec. 9, 2018. US Navy photo courtesy Bath Iron Works
The General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard and the local chapter of the Machinists Union are days from their current labor agreement expiring and still haven’t found common ground after union representatives rejected the yard’s “last, best and final offer” on employee pay and benefits. Read More
Fincantieri FFG(X) Design based on the FREMM. Fincantieri Image
This post has been updated to include comments from industry.
No protests have been filed over the Navy’s decision to award Fincantieri a detail design and construction contract for the FFG(X) program, clearing the way for work to begin, the Navy confirmed to USNI News.
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The following is the May 4, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
Fincantieri FFG(X) Design based on the FREMM. Fincantieri Image
This post has been updated to include additional information from the Navy.
The Navy awarded a $795-million contract to Fincantieri to begin building a new class of guided-missile frigates, in the first new major shipbuilding program the service has started in more than a decade, the Navy announced today. Read More
USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) pierside in Pearl Harbor during a port visit in 2019. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to include additional information about second-in-class USS Michael Monsoor.
USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) was delivered to the fleet after completing its combat system activation and subsequent at-sea trials, two sources told USNI News. Read More
The following is the April 17, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
Tripoli (LHA-7) is launched at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. on March 1, 2017. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to include information from a Feb. 10 budget briefing with Rear Adm. Randy Crites, the deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget.
The proposed Navy shipbuilding plan that cuts a Virginia-class submarine, a frigate and an oiler that were previously planned for FY 2021 received immediate bipartisan pushback from the House and the Senate. Read More
The following is the Dec. 16, 2019 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
