Defence

BAE Systems to modernise USS Lassen

Posted 11 January 2023

BAE Systems has received a $119.2 million contract from the US Navy to perform major modernisation work aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82).

Image courtesy BAE Systems

BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair will dry-dock the ship for seven months under the depot maintenance period (DMP) availability contract awarded by the Navy. In addition to underwater hull preservation work, the company’s Florida shipyard will recondition the ship’s engineering spaces, upgrade its command and control equipment and refurbish the crew’s living spaces.

The value of the competitively-awarded contract could reach $137.9 million if all options are exercised and the company expects the DMP work to begin in January 2023 and be completed in April 2024.

“The modernisation work we will perform on the USS Lassen is a major project for our team and industry partners and builds upon our recent DMP work aboard two other ships,” said Tim Spratto, BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair’s general manager. “Our work will usher the Lassen into a higher phase of capability in the fleet.”

BAE Systems’ Jacksonville shipyard is nearing the end of similar work aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and previously completed a DMP availability aboard USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).

USS Lassen is the 32nd ship of the Arleigh Burke class and was commissioned in April 2001. The ship is named in honour of Medal of Honor recipient Clyde Lassen, who was recognised for his actions as a naval aviator during Vietnam. A previous US Navy ship called USS Lassen (AE 3) was named after a northern California volcano.

BAE Systems is a leading provider of ship repair, maintenance, modernisation, conversion and overhaul services for the Navy, other government agencies and select commercial customers. The company operates three full-service shipyards in California, Florida and Virginia and offers a highly skilled, experienced workforce, seven dry-docks and railways, significant pier space and ship support services. The company’s Jacksonville shipyard has approximately 660 employees and works with the Navy and several subcontractor companies to accomplish its ship sustainment work.