BAE Systems nets $202 million to upgrade US Navy’s warship duo

BAE Systems has received $202 million in U.S. Navy contracts to provide modernization and maintenance services aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) and the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1).

Under the $114 million docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) contract for USS Laboon, BAE Systems will dry-dock the ship to perform underwater hull maintenance, while repairing the ship’s main propulsion system; preserving internal ballast and fuel tanks, and the external superstructure; and rehabilitating crew berthing and dining compartments.

The DSRA contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $117 million.

USS Laboon is named in honor of Father John Francis Laboon (1921–1988), a captain in the Navy’s Chaplain Corps who was awarded the Silver Star during World War II while serving on the submarine USS Peto.

Under the selected restricted availability (SRA) contract awarded for USS Wasp, BAE Systems will perform mechanical work in the engineering spaces, inspect and repair interior hull structures, and refurbish the habitability spaces for the ship’s crew and embarked Marine troops.

The SRA contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $104 million. USS Wasp is the tenth U.S. ship to be so named. The shipyard previously worked aboard the Wasp from February 2021 to April 2023.

The company’s Norfolk shipyard is currently concluding repair availabilities aboard Wasp-class ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and the destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94). The shipyard began working aboard the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) earlier this year.

“The award of these two contracts will provide extensive work for our Norfolk shipyard team,” said David M. Thomas, Jr., vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair. 

BAE Systems shipyard personnel and their subcontractor teammates will begin working aboard both ships next February and March, respectively.

In September this year, BAE Systems received a $177.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy for the maintenance and modernization of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97).

Under the Depot Maintenance Period (DMP) contract, BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard is set to undertake a comprehensive overhaul of a 155.3-meter-long naval vessel. This extensive maintenance project will involve dry-docking the ship to facilitate underwater hull preservation work, ensuring the vessel’s structural integrity and operational readiness for years to come, according to the firm.