The US Navy has awarded a modification contract to BAE Systems for the supply of two advanced gun systems (AGS) in support of the third Zumwalt-class multi-mission destroyer, DDG 1002.
The $80.3m deal follows previous US Navy funding awarded in October 2011, and brings the contract’s total value for the ship to $149m.
Designed to provide flexible and sustainable firepower against a wide range of littoral and inland targets, the 155mm AGS also provides highly advanced gunfire capabilities for performing anti-surface warfare.
BAE Systems DDG 1000 programme director Dave Johnson said: "This contract demonstrates the progress made on the DDG 1000 programme with the integration of AGS technology onto now a third DDG 1000 destroyer."
Developed to store, programme and fire the long-range land attack projectile (LRLAP), the AGS is an automated vertically loaded gun mount system and can fire ten rounds a minute.
With a range in excess of 60nm and a capacity to hold up to 300 rounds, the weapon system design also supports the US Navy’s aim to significantly reduce crew requirement while enhancing their safety.
"The AGS is critical in supporting the US Navy and Marine Corps’ expeditionary and joint operations against a wide range of littoral and deep inland targets," Johnson said.
Work will be carried out at the company’s facilities in Louisville in Kentucky and Cordova, Alabama, US, and is scheduled to be complete by January 2018.
The next-generation, guided-missile, Zumwalt-class multi-mission destroyers are being built to provide independent forward presence and deterrence for carrying out operations in the littorals as well as during land attack.
Image: BAE Systems-built advanced gun system firing a projectile. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.
