"The $644.3 million contract modification fully funds this ship, which was awarded as part of a multi-year competition for DDG 51 class destroyers," press release stated. "The total value of the five-ship contract is approximately $3.4 billion."
There are currently four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in production — Rafael Peralta, Thomas Hudner, Daniel Inouye and Carl Levin, the release noted.
The release described the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer as "a multi-mission combatant that offers defense against a wide range of threats, including ballistic missiles."
The destroyers carry a complete array of anti-submarine capabilities; the AEGIS combat system that tracks and destroys enemy targets; a vertical launching system; two SH-60 helicopters; advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk anti-ship and land-attack missiles, the release noted.
Destroyers operate in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups and amphibious groups, according to General Dynamics.
