The Navy on Thursday released a final Request for Proposals (RFP) for the fiscal years (FY) 2018-2022 multiyear procurement (MYP) for Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
The RFP is a limited competition between current DDG-51 shipbuilders General Dynamics [GD] Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII].
The MYP continues production of the DDG-51 in the newest configuration. The main Flight III upgrade will be the Raytheon [RTN] AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and associated adaptions necessary for its greater power consumption. The AMDR is set to greatly improve the destroyer’s ability to detect air and ballistic missile threats and help intercept them.
This MYP authority was first included in the president’s FY 2018 budget request and approved when Congress passed the final FY 2018 authorization bill (NDAA).
The Navy highlighted this measure maximizes Flight III affordability, competition, and continued industrial base stability.
“This solicitation positions us to deliver lethal capacity to our fleet while driving affordability. The Navy has worked with our industry partners to develop the Flight III design to ensure each shipyard is well-positioned to execute this MYP,” James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for acquisition, research and development, said in a statement.
The service said it plans to award the MYP contracts later in FY2018, pending appropriate congressional approvals.