CG-47 modernization
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On Oct 31/07, BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair in San Diego, CA was awarded a $31 million contract to undertake maintenance, repair and modernization of the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill [CG-52] during its scheduled Depot Modernization. Work is scheduled to take place in San Diego from Feb 13/08 through February 2009. The project, which includes dry-docking and pier-side work, will involve an average of 300 workers a day and include: all-electric modification to replace steam-operated equipment; stainless steel sanitary space upgrades; corrosion control enhancements; tank, underwater hull and freeboard preservation; and extensive weapons, sensor and communication system upgrades.

USS Bunker Hill, a CG-47 Ticonderoga Class AEGIS cruiser, was launched in 1985. The Ticonderoga Class remains critical to American seapower, functioning as the fleet’s most powerful anti-air defense, and contributing substantial anti-ship and anti-submarine combat power to its assigned naval groups. With the DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class destroyer program reaching prohibitive cost levels at $3 billion per ship, and plans for the CG (X) class in flux, modernizing the Ticonderoga ships via planned upgrades and future possibilities like AESA radars will be critical to the USA’s naval and ballistic missile defense security.

CG-52 at Pearl
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Contract funds in the amount of $21.9 million will expire at the end of FY 2008, and this contract was competitively procured and advertised via the Internet, with 2 proposals received by the US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington Navy Yard, D.C. NAVSEA’s ’s Southwest Regional Maintenance Center will administer the contract (N00024-08-C-4401). BAE Systems Ship Repair has carved out a strong competitive position in the USA for non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion, with major operations in Norfolk, VA; San Diego and San Francisco, CA; and Hawaii. See also BAE’s Jan 15/08 release.