Bath Iron Works to Build Units for the LPD 24 Amphibious Ship

Released on Monday, March 31, 2008

PASCAGOULA, Miss., March 31, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- In an agreement established to further stabilize the shipbuilding industrial base and meet shipbuilding schedule commitments, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has awarded a contract to General Dynamics' (NYSE:GD) Bath Iron Works for the construction of units for a San Antonio (LPD 17) class amphibious transport dock ship. Northrop Grumman's Shipbuilding sector is the prime contractor for the LPD 17 class of ships.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, a newly-formed sector of Northrop Grumman, combined the former Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and Newport News shipbuilding entities.

"This subcontract helps maintain a healthy industrial base and continues the collaboration between the two largest shipbuilders in the country," said Irwin F. Edenzon, vice president and general manager for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast. "Bath has manufacturing capacity at the right time to provide what we need. It's the right thing to do for the program and our customer."

Per the agreement, Bath Iron Works will build units for Northrop Grumman's eighth ship in the LPD 17 class, Arlington (LPD 24). The units will be barged to the company's Pascagoula facility on the Gulf Coast for integration. The completed ship will be delivered by Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics have a long history of collaboration including the construction of USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class destroyers, USS Ticonderoga (CG 47) class cruisers and the U.S. Navy's next generation of destroyers, the Zumwalt class (DDG 1000). Additionally, they are teamed on the Virginia-class submarine program.