Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • BAE Systems tandem dry-docks USS Decatur & USS Stethem

Defence

BAE Systems tandem dry-docks USS Decatur & USS Stethem

BAE Systems' San Diego Ship Repair team will tandem drydock two Navy destroyers, the USS Decatur & USS Stethem.

It is a massive undertaking that demonstrates how BAE Systems' 2X capabilities enhance the combat readiness of the US fleet.

BAE Systems has received $170.7 million in contracts from the US Navy to perform simultaneous maintenance and repair on two Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided-missile destroyers in its San Diego shipyard.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Under the awarded contracts, the shipyard will tandem dry-dock the USS Stethem (DDG 63) and USS Decatur (DDG 73) in October. The synchronised two-ship docking will be a first for the company’s newest dry-dock in San Diego. The contracts include options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $185 million.

“The ability to simultaneously dock two DDGs is a special capability that BAE Systems brings to our Navy customer and comes at a critical time when additional throughput is necessary to meet surface combatant demands and modernization requirements,” said David M. Thomas Jr., vice president and general manager of BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair. “Beyond the remarkable nature of this tandem docking, it will be business as usual for our shipyard team and partners given our significant experience working with the Arleigh Burke class.”

Positioned end to end, the USS Stethem and USS Decatur will be lifted together inside BAE Systems’ 'Pride of California' dry-dock. Installed in 2017, the Pride of California is 950 feet long, 160 feet wide and has a lifting capacity of 55,000 tons – making it the largest floating dry-dock in San Diego. The destroyers each displace about 9,000 tons and are expected to be re-floated in April 2020.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The USS Stethem is the 13th ship of the Arleigh Burke class, which is the Navy’s largest class of surface warfare combatants. Named for Master Chief Constructionman Robert Stethem, the 505-foot-long ship was commissioned in October 1995. BAE Systems will perform hull, mechanical and engineering repairs aboard the ship. Once back in the water, the Stethem’s Extended Docking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA) is expected to be completed in October 2020.

The USS Decatur is the 23rd ship of the Arleigh Burke class. Named for the early 19th Century Naval hero Stephen Decatur Jr., the ship was commissioned in August 1998. BAE Systems will perform much of the same upgrade work aboard the 505-foot-long Decatur as it will perform on-board the Stethem. After undocking, the Decatur’s EDSRA work is expected to continue into October 2020.

BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard currently employs about 1,300 people and hundreds of temporary workers and subcontractors nearby the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.
 

Advertisement
Cranfield University
UKI2S backs Cryogenx to tackle military heat stress

Defence

UKI2S backs Cryogenx to tackle military heat stress

15 July 2025

The UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, has invested £430,000 in Cryogenx as part of a £1.7 million seed funding round to accelerate development of its breakthrough portable cooling technology.

RTX

Defence

RTX's Raytheon awarded US Navy RAM GMLS contract

15 July 2025

RTX's Raytheon has been awarded a $74 million contract to produce RAM Guided Missile Launching Systems (GMLS) for the US Navy.

Lane Electronics to showcase connectivity solutions at DSEI 2025

Defence Security Events

Lane Electronics to showcase connectivity solutions at DSEI 2025

15 July 2025

Franchised distributor of electrical, electronic and optical connectors, Lane Electronics, will be exhibiting at DSEI 2025 (9th–12th September 2025, Excel London) will have the opportunity to explore the company’s latest connector technologies and its UK-based assembly and services.

Galvion to supply 5,000 more Batlskin Caiman helmets to Canadian DND

Defence

Galvion to supply 5,000 more Batlskin Caiman helmets to Canadian DND

15 July 2025

Galvion has received a second follow-on order from the Department of National Defence (DND) Canada for its flagship Batlskin Caiman ballistic helmet systems.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025
Systematic launches SitaWare BattleCloud

Defence

Systematic launches SitaWare BattleCloud

15 July 2025

C4ISR solutions developer Systematic, today announced the launch of SitaWare BattleCloud — a cloud-native evolution of the proven SitaWare Suite — alongside new features for the SitaWare suite.

BAE Systems

Defence

BAE Systems' Leadership Academy opens in Barrow

14 July 2025

BAE Systems has opened a new Leadership Academy in Barrow to deliver world-class educational facilities for designing and building Royal Navy submarines.

Advertisement
Teledyne