BAE to upgrade cruiser USS Vicksburg

BAE Systems has received a contract worth $42.9 million from the US Navy to upgrade the USS Vicksburg (CG 69), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, the company announced on 16 March.

BAE Systems will start upgrading the ship in April at the company's Norfolk, Virginia shipyard under the special selected restricted availability (SSRA) contract. Work is expected to be completed by September 2017.

The company will carry out miscellaneous repairs aboard the 567-foot-long ship, including the replacement of critical aluminium structures.

If all options are exercised, the value of the contract could reach $45.9 million.

Dave Thomas, VP and general manager of BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, said: 'The Vicksburg is our second SSRA under the long-term cruiser mod programme. Our team recently completed similar work on-board the Gettysburg, which is now ready for the next phase of modernisation next year and continued service in the fleet afterwards.

'This SSRA contract provides important work for our shipyard team, particularly for our skilled employees and their work with aluminium structures aboard navy ships.'