Aegis program gets full committee approval

WASHINGTON — The DDG-51 destroyer program that is vital to Bath Iron Works emerged unscathed Tuesday after deliberations by the House Armed Services Committee that trimmed $23 billion from President George Bush’s defense budget.

“This is certainly good news for Bath Iron Works,” said Rep. Joseph E. Brennan, a member of the House panel. “Today’s action by the Armed Services Committee shows continuing strong support for the DDG-51 program and the quality of work exhibited by BIW.”

The full House Armed Services Committee approved construction of five Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyers. BIW is the lead shipyard on the DDG-51 program and could win contracts to build as many as three of the destroyers.

Opponents of the DDG-51 program twice failed to cut back on the number of destroyers during deliberations at the subcommittee level last week.

BIW and the DDG-51 program have come under criticism following allegations that the lead ship was behind schedule and over budget, and that BIW overcharged the Navy for its work on the first DDG-51. A Navy official last week said no evidence was found to support allegations of overcharging.

The Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month also turned back attempts to reduce the DDG-51 program and authorized five new Burke destroyers.