BAE Systems gets $170m for work on two San Diego destroyers

BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair has received two contracts totaling over $170 million for the repairs and modernization of two San Diego-based Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The shipyard received $86.1 million to carry out the extended dry-docking selected restricted availability (EDSRA) on USS Decatur.

The destroyer returned to naval base San Diego in April 2019 after working in the US 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet areas of operation.

In 2018, Decatur carried out a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea during which it was challenged by a Chinese destroyer that approached within 45 yards of Decatur’s bow.

Work under the contract is expected to be completed by October 2020.

The second contract awarded to the company, worth $84.6 million, is for the extended dry-docking selected restricted availability of USS Stethem (DDG 63).

Stethem arrived in San Diego in July after it spent 14 years forward-deployed to Japan. Stethem’s repairs are also expected to be completed by October 2020.