Future USS Jason Dunham Completes "Super Trials"

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Jason Dunham (DDG 109) is translated from the Land Level Transfer Facility at Bath Iron Works into the floating dry dock after its christening ceremony in preparation for float-off later in the day. (Photo: Michael C. Nutter/ General Dynamics/Released)

21 May 2010, WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The future USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), the 58th ship of the Arleigh Burke-class, successfully completed a combined builder's and acceptance "super trial" May 20, after spending four days at sea operating in the Atlantic Ocean.

Because of the maturity of the class, the Navy holds only one round of trials on each ship prior to delivery, instead of separate builder's and acceptance trials. This "super trial" requires less time, fuel and manpower than the typical method.

During the trial, Bath Iron Works and the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) tested the ship's weapons, communications, and propulsion systems as well as conducting several other inspections including habitability, water purification and food preparation.

"DDG 109 performed extremely well for INSURV and proved that the DDG 51 class continues to meet the Navy's expectations in both cost and schedule performance," said Capt. Pete Lyle, DDG 51-class program manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "The success of these trials illustrates the cost and schedule advantages realized with a program well into serial production."

The DDG 51 class ship is a multimission guided missile destroyer designed to operate in multithreat air, surface and subsurface threat environments. The class provides outstanding combat capability and survivability characteristics while minimizing procurement and lifetime support costs due to the program's maturity. The DDG 51 program continues to reinforce affordability and efficiency in its shipbuilding program, with a commitment to deliver ships at the highest possible quality allowing seamless transition to the fleet.

These trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship to the Navy. The future USS Jason Dunham is expected to deliver this summer, and to be officially commissioned in November.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all major surface combatants, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Currently, the majority of shipbuilding programs managed by PEO Ships are benefiting from serial production efficiencies, which are critical to delivering ships on cost and schedule.

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