A Good Omen for DDG-1000

I have been very critical of the DDG-1000. I support building two of two different classes as prototypes, and use those two to mature the technologies that will support the 21st century Navy. My opinion is in the minority.

However, I am very much encouraged by this news (From Defensenews):

The U.S. Navy’s first DDG 1000 destroyer will be born in Maine, joining a list of first-of-class destroyers stretching back well into the last century.

General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works will build the first of the two Zumwalt-class DDG 1000 advanced destroyers funded by Congress in 2007, the Navy announced Sept. 25. The decision alters the previous plan to build the first ship at Northrop Grumman’s Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

“The decision was reached after reviewing the current and future workload projections at each shipyard and soliciting input from both shipyards,” said Lt. Cmdr. John Schofield, a spokesman for Navy acquisition chief Delores Etter. “Resequencing of the delivery of the first ship ... best addresses current workload and better balances the surface combatant industrial base.”

The move could help keep costs down on the ships, Schofield said. The Navy estimates each ship will cost $3.3 billion to build, but independent estimates forecast figures as high as $5 billion or more.

If the Navy wants to get back to basics, follow in the footsteps of success. Building the DDG-1000 in Bath follows a historical pattern of success in building new surface combatants.

This is a good omen.