- The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works a $19.5 million contract modification to continue engineering and technical support for Zumwalt-class destroyers through March 2027.
- The funding supports Planning Yard work that maintains design data, manages upgrades, and provides technical oversight for the advanced Zumwalt-class warships.
The United States Navy has awarded a $19.5 million contract modification to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works to continue engineering and technical support for the Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers, according to a contract announcement.
Most of the work will take place in Bath, Maine, and is scheduled to run through March 2027.
The contract allows the company to continue serving as the Planning Yard for the Zumwalt-class ships — a role that involves maintaining the ships’ technical design, supporting upgrades, and helping resolve engineering issues that arise during service.
This support is necessary because the Zumwalt-class destroyers use some of the most advanced technologies ever installed on a U.S. Navy surface combatant. As a result, maintaining and upgrading the ships requires specialized engineering knowledge and access to the original design data.
The work will be performed primarily in Bath, Maine, where Bath Iron Works operates one of the United States’ major naval shipyards. The announcement states that 99 percent of the work will take place in Bath, with the remaining portion occurring at other locations that together account for about one percent of the total effort.
Funding for the contract comes from two Navy budget accounts. Fiscal 2025 “Other Procurement, Navy” funds totaling $9,895,750 will be obligated at the time of the award. In addition, Fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance funds totaling $1,875,210 will also be applied.
The contract was issued by the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., which oversees shipbuilding and technical support programs for the Navy’s fleet.
In naval programs, the Planning Yard is responsible for managing the detailed engineering behind a ship class throughout its service life. This includes maintaining design drawings, analyzing technical problems, and ensuring that modifications or repairs remain compatible with the ship’s systems.
For complex warships like the Zumwalt-class destroyers, that work is especially important. These ships use a range of advanced technologies, including an integrated electric power system, automated combat systems, and a stealth-focused hull design intended to reduce radar detection.
Because these technologies differ from those used on earlier destroyers, the Navy relies on the original shipbuilder and engineering teams to maintain the technical data and oversee design changes.
The Zumwalt-class destroyers were developed as next-generation surface combatants capable of operating in high-threat environments. Their design includes a distinctive angular hull intended to reduce radar signature and an advanced power system capable of supporting future weapons or sensors.
Managing upgrades or modifications to such systems requires careful coordination between naval engineers, shipyards, and operational commands. Planning Yard contractors provide that coordination by reviewing technical changes before they are implemented.
Bath Iron Works has long played a central role in building and supporting U.S. Navy surface combatants. The shipyard has produced multiple classes of destroyers and continues to support the fleet through construction, maintenance, and engineering services.