
DDG-51 Procurement. The final version of the fiscal year 2017 defense appropriations bill, unveiled March 2, would fund three Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyers, one more than the Navy requested. The bill would also direct the Navy to complete the extra ship in the Flight IIA configuration instead of the new Flight III version. A report explaining the bill indicates that lawmakers are not convinced that Flight III is ready for procurement and that they have “concerns” about Flight III costs.…