The US Department of Defense (DoD) has contracted General Dynamics’s shipbuilding division to modernization, and repair of USS Higgins guided-missile destroyer.

The USD72,5 million contract includes a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of USS Higgins (DDG 76) guided-missile destroyer. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by September 2019.

According to the DoD’s statement, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., is awarded a $72,520,873 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS Higgins (DDG 76) fiscal 2018 Extended Dry-Docking Selected Restricted Availability. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $89,137,388.

USS Higgins (DDG-76) is the U.S. Navy’s 26th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and is named in honor of Colonel William R. (Rich) Higgins, USMC.

The naval-technology.com noted that the Arleigh Burke Class destroyers are equipped with the Aegis combat system which integrates the ship’s sensors and weapons systems to engage anti-ship missile threats.

While the ship’s primary role is ballistic-missile defense, it can still handle other duties such as maritime interdiction, air defense and multinational exercises.

USS Higgins (DDG 76) is part of Naval Surface Forces and U.S. 3rd Fleet. U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.