WASHINGTON – The United States Navy will provide $20 million in contract funding to Bath Iron Works for advance purchase of equipment, parts and supplies for the construction of DDG-51 Aegis destroyers, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe announced Thursday.

The equipment is designed to support the construction of destroyers under the multiyear procurement contract negotiated by Snowe as chair of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee last year.

“This advance funding allows the yard to plan for its ship construction contracts over the next three fiscal years, obtaining the best market rate and setting the stage for BIW to complete ‘best-built’ destroyers on time and on budget.”