The Navy laid the keel for the first destroyer in the Zumwalt-class (DDG-1000) yesterday and said the ship is more than half complete.

“Keel laying is just the first of many important milestones and events in bringing Zumwalt to life,” said Capt. Jim Downey, the DDG-1000 program manager. “With the outstanding team we have assembled, I look forward to building on the superb progress we’ve achieved to date and delivering this extremely capable warship to the fleet.”

The keel was laid at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard. Construction began on the DDG-1000 in February 2009 and it’s scheduled for delivery in fiscal 2014.

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded a $1.8 billion contract to Bath Iron Works in September for construction of the DDG-1001 and DDG-1002 (Defense Daily, Sept. 16, 2011). The three destroyers are the only ones currently planned for the class.