The USS Philippine Sea, a guided-missile cruiser with almost three decades in service, is to be comprehensively modernised by BAE Systems as part of an ambitious $9.6 million US Navy contract.
At BAE System’s Jacksonville shipyard in Florida and the nearby Naval Station Mayport, the USS Philippine Sea will undergo its ten month upgrade.
Crucially, the docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) contract includes options that, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value to a whopping $72 million.
“We have extensive experience with the Navy’s Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers and specifically with the Philippine Sea,” said Todd Hooks, General Manager of BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair.
“We will utilize our cruiser experience to accomplish the DSRA and return the ship back to the fleet ready for continued service.”
The USS Philippine Sea was first commissioned in March 1989. It is thought that work aboard the 567-foot-long vessel will begin in April, with completion currently slated for February 2019 – in time for the ship’s 30 year anniversary.
For BAE Systems this is encouraging news. Around 540 skilled workers are employed at the organisation’s Jacksonville shipyard.
To date, the defence specialist operates five full-service shipyards in Alabama, California, Florida, Hawaii, and Virginia, with eight dry docks, significant pier space and much-needed ship support services available.
If you would like to join our community and read more articles like this then please click here.
Image courtesy of Simev / Shutterstock.com
The post US Navy enlists BAE Systems to modernise USS Philippine Sea appeared first on Defence Online.
