Pentagon Certifies Bath Iron Works for a Second Destroyer

The Pentagon has certified that Bath Iron Works can take on construction of a second guided-missile destroyer, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and the department announced on October 14, according to Homeland Preparedness News.

The determination followed a review of the General Dynamics-operated shipyard that included repeated visits, Collins said. The department concluded that operational improvements at the yard had established enough capacity and stability to support a second destroyer alongside its existing workload.

Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has pushed for two ships to be built at the Bath yard in the fiscal 2027 budget. She said the certification would support the Navy and keep the shipyard "a steady source of good-paying Maine jobs," and cited China's fleet expansion as a reason to add capacity.

Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg said the shipyard still has work to do, calling the improvements a step in the right direction while noting that legacy production problems remain and that sustained performance is essential. He said the department would continue to work with contractors that prioritize execution, accountability and faster modernization.

This story was first reported by Homeland Preparedness News.