General Dynamics NASSCO to modernize USS Mason guided-missile destroyer of US Navy.

General Dynamics' (NYSE: GD) NASSCO subsidiary has won a potential $132.2M contract to help the U.S. Navy modernize the USS Mason guided-missile destroyer for fiscal year 2020. The USS Mason (DDG-87) is the 9th ship of the upgraded (Flight IIA) Arleigh Burke Class of AEGIS Guided Missile Destroyers, making her one of the most sophisticated ships sailing the seas.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) transits the Gulf of Oman, June 19, 2019. (Picture source USD Navy)

The firm-fixed-price contract has a $96.9M initial value and covers modernization, repair and maintenance of the Arleigh-class vessel, the Department of Defense said Friday, December 20,2019. NASSCO will provide the human resources and facilities needed to address the project goals. Work will take place in Norfolk, Va., through May 2021 if the service branch exercises all options.

Naval Sea Systems Command received two proposals for the contract via a full and open solicitation that was conducted within the East and Gulf coasts. The service branch will finance the base period of performance using fiscal 2020 operations, maintenance and other procurement funds. Of the obligated funds, $67.5M will expire once the current fiscal year concludes.

USS Mason (DDG-87) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The Arleigh Burke-class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) is a United States Navy class of destroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multifunction passive electronically scanned array radar.

the USS MASON was constructed by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The new DDG-51 (Flight IIA) class continues the design of previous Arleigh Burkes, but with several important upgrades:

- The construction of the helicopter hangar is the most visible change for this new generation of AEGIS destroyers. This addition allows MASON to deploy with two armed Light Airborne Multipurpose System (LAMPS) MK III SH-60 Seahawk Helicopters, giving increased undersea, surface and air detection capabilities.
- The AN/SPY-1D Phased Array Radar System incorporates significant upgrades in the detection capabilities of the AEGIS Weapons System, particularly in its resistance to enemy Electronic Countermeasures. The four fixed arrays of “SPY” send out radar beams of electronic energy in all directions simultaneously, continuously providing search, detection and tracking capability for hundreds of targets simultaneously. Using the SPY-1D and her Missile Fire Control System, MASON can simultaneously fire missiles from its vertical Launching System against air, surface, sub-surface and land targets. MASON is also equipped with Cooperative Engagement Capability.
- USS MASON is armed with Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), MK-46/50 over the side torpedoes, Vertically Launched ASROC, Tomahawks and Standard Missiles. MASON is also armed with the MK 45 MOD 3 5”/62 Caliber gun. The gun enables MASON to provide long-range Naval Surface Fire Support. It is capable of firing different ammunition types, to include the Extended Range Guided Munitions (ERGM) round.