The U.S. Navy has stood up a program office that will oversee acquisition, fleet introduction and sustainment approaches for the service branch's planned DDG(X) class of guided-missile destroyers, Seapower Magazine reported Friday.
As part of organizational changes, the newly formed PMS 460 organization will operate under Program Executive Office Ships and absorb the Electric Ships program office.
PMS 460 will have 16 headquarter billets that include 11 incumbent ones covering various Electric Ship initiatives such as integrated power systems.
Navy Capt. David Hart will lead the new office as major program manager while Katherine Connelly, most recently director of government equipment management at PEO Ships, as deputy program manager. According to the service, the two officials will lead efforts to develop a strategy to procure DDG(X) ships and a data package as well as create plans to build, test and maintain the proposed vessels.
The DDG(X), which is meant to follow the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class vessels in naval service, will feature elements of existing FLT III combat systems, a new hull form and integrated power system.
The Navy expects to begin the preliminary design phase in fiscal year 2022.
