Projo Biz Blog

The Navy plans to support building a third, stealth-technology Zumwalt destroyer, reversing plans to end the program -- which jeopardized Raytheon jobs in Rhode Island.

That's according to a news release late today from U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island. A letter from both Admiral Gary Roughead, naval operations chief, and Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter to Kennedy described the Navy's plan to "complete construction of the DDG 1000 ships under contract and conform to the President's FY 2009 budget submission by executing the third ship," according to Kennedy's office.

The Zumwalt "provides our sailors with unsurpassed surface combatant technologies that will transform the capabilities of our Navy. A third DDG 1000 will ensure the continued development of Rhode Island's defense industry and high-skilled workforce," Kennedy said in the statement.

Last month, Navy Secretary Donald Winter let Congressional members know the Navy expected to buy just two Zumwalt-class destroyers.

Some have critized the price of the Zumwalt destroyers -- estimates have reached as high as twice the $1.3-billion cost of smaller Arleigh Burke destroyers.

-- With Journal archival reports

 Tags  jobs Raytheon Rep. Patrick Kennedy Zumwalt destroyer

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