Work starts on US Navy’s latest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

Shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) has cut the steel for new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Quentin Walsh to be built for the US Navy, marking the beginning of the construction process.

As disclosed, USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132) will be a DDG 51 Flight III guided-missile destroyer centered on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defense radar and will incorporate upgrades to the electrical power and cooling capacity plus additional associated changes to provide greatly enhanced warfighting capability to the fleet. The Flight III baseline begins with DDGs 125-126 and continues with DDG 128 and follow-on ships.

The ship is named after Capt. Quentin R. Walsh, a United States Coast Guard officer who earned the Navy Cross during World War II.

“We are engaged in a long-term competition and the future USS Quentin Walsh will provide the strategic capabilities needed to support the fleet for decades to come,” said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “Capt. Walsh provided selfless service to his country and this warship will help to continue his honorable legacy.”

The $910-million contract for the construction of the vessel was signed in December 2018.

BIW is also in production on the future Carl M. Levin (DDG 120), John Basilone (DDG 122), Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124), Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126) and William Charette (DDG 130).

In October this year, the company held a christening ceremony for the future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) at its shipyard in Bath, Maine.

As one of the defense department’s largest acquisition organizations, Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships) is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, boats and craft.