Huntington Ingalls Industries has been awarded a large-scale contract for construction of six Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) Flight III destroyers for the U.S. Navy.

The U.S Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a fixed-price-incentive, firm target multiyear contract on 27 September with a ceiling price of  $5.1 billion, which provides for construction of six Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) Flight III destroyers.

According to the company’s statement, the contract includes options for engineering and post-delivery efforts, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to approximately $5.25 billion.

“Destroyers represent the backbone of the Navy’s fleet and play a significant role in the defense of our freedom,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. “Our shipbuilders construct every DDG 51 with great pride, knowing the significant mission each ship carries out in their lifetime. This contract for six additional destroyers is significant not only for the men and women who will spend the next several years building and delivering these quality ships, but also for the sailors who will operate these warships around the world ensuring there is peace back home.”

Over the course of 30 years, Ingalls has built and delivered 30 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The shipyard currently has five DDGs under construction, including the first Flight III ship, DDG 125, which started fabrication in May.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States’ military strategy. The guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HII’s Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HII’s Technical Solutions division provides a wide range of professional services through its Fleet Support, Integrated Missions Solutions, Nuclear & Environmental, and Oil & Gas groups. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 40,000 people operating both domestically and internationally.