Northrop Grumman-built Aegis Destroyer USS Dewey Completes Successful "Super Trials''

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UNITED STATES - 30 JUNE 2009

Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Aegis guided missile destroyer Dewey (DDG 105) successfully completed her combined super trial last week in the Gulf of Mexico. The successful sea trial paved the way for delivery to the Navy later this summer. The destroyer is being built by the company at its Gulf Coast facilities in Pascagoula, Miss.

"This super trial represents another cost savings initiative developed in partnership with the U.S. Navy. Combining builder's and acceptance trials into one three-day event eliminates significant cost from the delivery process," said Irwin F. Edenzon, sector vice president and general manager, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Gulf Coast.

"I'm not only proud of our shipbuilders who built Dewey, but also our test and trials team that worked with the Navy throughout the trials process. Their focus on excellence allowed us to complete this trial successfully as we continue to prepare for delivering our 26th Aegis destroyer to the Navy."

Super trials have been conducted on five of the last six destroyers built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Gulf Coast. However, the combined trial on DDG 105 marks the first of its kind since Hurricane Katrina.

"I think both Northrop Grumman and the Navy team should be very proud of what has been accomplished on this sea trial," said U.S. Navy Capt. Mary E. "Beth" Dexter, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast. "This is my last trial on a DDG, and from what I've seen, this is the finest warship in the world bar none. And the shipbuilders should be very proud of the service that they do for the Navy and the nation."

During the trial, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) tested the ship's weapons, communications, and propulsion systems as well as conducting several other inspections including habitability, water purification and food preparation.

"I want to congratulate the shipbuilders from Northrop Grumman and Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast for an outstanding super trial," said Northrop Grumman's DDG 51 program manager George Nungesser. "I'm very proud to be part of the team. We have a lot of things in common, but what we have most in common is our heart. It took a lot of heart to get 105 where she is today."

U.S. Navy Commander Warren Buller is the ship's first commanding officer and will lead a crew of over 300 officers and sailors. The 510-foot, 9,500-ton Dewey has an overall beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas-turbine propulsion plants will power the ship to speeds above 30 knots.

This highly capable multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States' military strategy. Dewey will be capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.


Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation







Class and type: Arleigh Burke class destroyer (U.S. Navy)

Length: 509 ft 6 in (155.3 m)

Beam: 66 ft (20 m)

Draft: 31 ft (9.4 m)

Propulsion: 4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 100,000 shp (75 MW)

Complement: 380 officers and enlisted

Armament: 1 × 32 cell, 1 × 64 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems, 96 × RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-Asroc missiles
1 × 5/62 in (127/62 mm), 2 × 25 mm, 4 × 12.7 mm guns
2 × Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes

Aircraft carried: 2 × SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters

 

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Navy to Commission Guided Missile Destroyer Dewey at Seal Beach
UNITED STATES - 29 OCTOBER 2009

SEAL BEACH, Calif. -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has approved Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif., as the commissioning location of Pre-commissioning Unit (PCU) Dewey, the Navy's newest and most technologically advanced guided-missile destroyer.

The event will be the first time a U.S. Navy warship has been commissioned at Seal Beach.

Deborah Mullen, wife of Adm. Mike G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the ship's sponsor. She had previously christened the ship during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., Jan. 26, 2008.

The new destroyer honors Adm. George Dewey, most famous for leading his squadron of warships into Manila Bay April 30, 1898, and destroying the Spanish fleet in only two hours without a single American loss. A popular hero of his day, Dewey was commissioned admiral of the Navy, a rank created for him, in March 1903.

Dewey, designated DDG 105, is the 55th of 62 Arleigh Burke class destroyers either in commission, under construction or on order. The ship will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Dewey will be capable of fighting air, surface and sub-surface battles simultaneously and contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense.

Commencing operations in 1944 as a U.S. Naval Ammunition and Net Depot, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is the Pacific Fleet's premier ordnance loading, storage and maintenance installation. The base services approximately 50 U.S. Navy vessels annually.

 

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USS Dewey Commissioned at Seal Beach
UNITED STATES - 6 MARCH 2010

SEAL BEACH, Calif. -- USS Dewey (DDG105) was formally commissioned today in a ceremony on Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, marking the first time a warship has been commissioned in the Orange County city.

The new destroyer honors Adm. George Dewey (1837-1917) who commanded the Asiatic Station from the cruiser Olympia. Shortly after the onset of the Spanish-American War, Dewey led his squadron of warships into Manila Bay on April 30, 1898. The next morning, his squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in only two hours without a single American loss. A widely popular hero of his day, Dewey was commissioned admiral of the Navy in March 1903. Two previous ships have proudly carried his name.

Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the event's principal speaker, addressed the new ship's crew and called on them to provide leadership and dedication to each other and the mission.

"Let you be guided by that sense of duty which knows not the timidity of those who stay silent when they see something wrong," Mullen said. "And let you be inspired by the strength and the fortitude of your families whose high expectations of your conduct are—or should be—exceeded only by those you hold for yourselves."

Dewey is the 55th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The ship will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management, to sea control and power projection. Dewey will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower," which postures the sea services to apply maritime power to protect U.S. vital interests in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world.

Mrs. Deborah Mullen, the ship's sponsor, culminated the ceremony with the traditional order to "Man our ship and bring her to life!" emphasizing that the ship is truly alive with the Sailors that are serving now and will serve on Dewey in the future.

Cmdr. Warren Buller, of Concord, Mass., is the first commanding officer of the ship and leads the crew of 276 officers and enlisted personnel. He was proud to see this day come, marking the beginning of the ship's life and pointed to the ship's flag flying from the yardarm with the echoing Adm. Dewey's exhortation "Fight" in Navy blue on a field of gold above four white stars.

"Our command's philosophy; fight the ship, fight for your people and know why you fight for the country," Buller said. "We are ready to join the fleet, we are ready to fight."

The 9,200-ton Dewey was built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Dewey, her crew and their families will call San Diego home after commissioning.

 

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SEAL BEACH, Calif. (March 6, 2010) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) is commissioned at Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, Calif.



SEAL BEACH, Calif. (March 6, 2010) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) stand at parade rest during the ship's commissioning ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif.



SEAL BEACH, Calif. (March 6, 2010) Deborah Mullen, center, ship's sponsor of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105), renders honors with the official party during the commissioning ceremony for Dewey at Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, Calif.



SEAL BEACH, Calif. (March 6, 2010) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, his wife, Deborah Mullen, and Cmdr. Warren R. Buller, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105), watch the crew bring Dewey to life during the ship's commissioning ceremony at Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, Calif. Deborah Mullen is the ship's sponsor.



SEAL BEACH, Calif. (March 6, 2010) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen delivers remarks during the commissioning ceremony for the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) at Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, Calif.

 

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SEAL BEACH, Calif. (March 8, 2010) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) departs Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach after her commissioning ceremony.

 

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USS Dewey, USS Wayne E. Meyer Complete Aegis Combat System CSSQT
UNITED STATES - 11 MARCH 2010

MOORESTOWN, NJ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), in support of the U.S. Navy, successfully completed Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) for Aegis Combat Systems installed aboard U.S. and Spanish navy ships. The last time these two nations participated in a combined CSSQT was in 2007.

The latest event was conducted at sea last week in the vicinity of Pt. Mugu, CA and involved U.S. Navy destroyers USS Dewey (DDG 105) and USS Wayne E Meyer (DDG 108) along with the Spanish Navy frigate Alvaro de Bazan (F-101).

During the CSSQT, the ships' Aegis Combat Systems were evaluated for combat-readiness through comprehensive surface, subsurface and anti-air warfare exercises, including manned raids and electronic attack scenarios, as well as thorough testing of the systems' tactical data link and air defense capabilities.

“In addition to unmatched capabilities against all threats at sea, these qualification trials emphasize the global interoperability Aegis provides the U.S. Navy and its allies,” said Jeff Bantle, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors in Moorestown, N.J. “The contributions of our industry partners Navantia, Indra, RYMSA, Sainsel and other Spanish companies have been critical factors in the success of the Spanish F-100 frigate program, as well as in the support of the international fleet of Aegis-equipped ships.”

The Aegis Weapon System includes the SPY-1 radar, the Navy's most advanced radar system. When paired with the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, it is capable of delivering missiles for every mission and threat environment in naval warfare. The Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on more than 90 ships around the globe with at least 14 more ships planned. In addition to the U.S., Aegis is the weapon system of choice for Australia, Japan, Korea, Norway, and Spain.


Source: Lockheed Martin

 

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Kratos Awarded $4.9M Task Order to Support AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)
UNITED STATES - 16 MARCH 2010

SAN DIEGO | Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS), a leading National Defense, Information Technology, Assurance and Security Solutions provider, today announced the award of a $4.9 million dollar task order under the U.S. Army Multiple Award Contract (MAC) for Theoretical Studies and Engineering Research (TSER).

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division White Sands Detachment (NSWC PHD Det WS) has a requirement to engineer, integrate and flight test a family of sub-orbital rockets to be used as diagnostic, tracking and target vehicles. Under this Task Order Award, the Rocket Support Services (RSS) Business Unit of Kratos, through its contract with NSWC PHD Det WS, will evaluate the suitability of combining a surplus Pedro rocket with the Oriole rocket. They will assess other alternative rocket systems, and support up to four (4) launches of these rocket systems.

"We are extremely pleased to continue our support of NSWC PHD Detachment White Sands to provide a low cost solution to meet AEGIS BMD test and other technology development requirements," said David Carter, President of Kratos' Defense Engineering Solutions Division.


Source: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.