Free Republic

The Bath shipyard has contracts to build 11 new DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for the Navy over the next eight years. Bath Iron Works is known for building Navy warships from the ground up, but if it wants to stay in business it has to do the same to its workforce. The shipyard is in the midst of a massive hiring push to finish a backlog of ship work and reinforce its army of mechanics, many of whom are nearing retirement age. With Maine’s historically low 3 percent unemployment rate and a statewide skilled labor shortage, BIW can’t afford to...

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The control system for U.S. Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles is being upgraded by Lockheed Martin. The company, which didn't announce the monetary value of the modernization effort, said work will focus on the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System, which allows the preparation, control and launch of the missiles. The TTWCS is one of three prime components of the Tomahawk system. "Lockheed Martin is a key industry partner and continues to make significant and positive impacts directly supporting the Tomahawk Weapons System and our fleet sailors," said Navy Capt. Joe Mauser, Tomahawk program manager. "Lockheed Martin remains committed to enhancing the...

The Navy commissioned the newest guided-missile destroyer, the USS Dewey, to its fleet March 6 at a ceremony steeped in naval symbolism and tradition. At the Naval Weapons Station here, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered remarks to a crowd of thousands before the admiral's wife Deborah Mullen, the ship's sponsor, called the order that brought the $1 billion warship to life. "You're getting a true gem: a ship as well built and well-tested as they come and manned by performance-proven, highly motivated sailors. May you deploy Dewey to the tip of the spear."...