US Navy awards $183 million contract to repair USS Truxtun destroyer after collision in the Caribbean.

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $183 million contract to General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk to repair and modernize the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG-103) following a collision in the Caribbean Sea on February 11, 2026.

The yard period will address structural damage and integrate system upgrades, ensuring the ship can return to full-spectrum naval operations including air and missile defense. The contract, announced on April 13, 2026, by Naval Sea Systems Command, follows the February 11 collision with USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) during an underway replenishment under U.S. Southern Command. Conducted in Norfolk, Virginia, the 24-month overhaul is critical to restoring fleet availability and sustaining forward-deployed maritime presence in a region central to counter-narcotics and deterrence missions.

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The USS Truxtun, a guided missile destroyer of about 9,200 tons, was operating in parallel formation with the much larger USNS Supply, a fast combat support ship displacing close to 48,800 tons, when the collision took place on February 11, 2026. (Picture source: US Navy)

On April 13, 2026, the U.S Navy awarded a $183,228,722 firm-fixed-price contract to General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk for maintenance, modernization, and repair of USS Truxtun (DDG-103) following a February 11 collision with USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) during an underway replenishment in the Caribbean Sea. The contract includes options raising the total value to $183,581,496 and sets a completion date of April 2028, establishing a yard period of close to 24 months. The collision resulted in two sailors sustaining minor injuries, both stabilized without long-term medical impact, and both ships remained afloat and capable of independent navigation immediately after the incident.

The award follows a sequence including the collision, the removal of the commanding officer under a loss of confidence determination within about ten days, and the ship’s diversion to Ponce, Puerto Rico, for inspection. The contract was issued by the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., using full and open competition through the System for Award Management, with two offers received. General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk will perform the work in Norfolk, Virginia, within an industrial base that supports surface combatant overhauls and modernization programs. The firm-fixed-price structure locks the base value at $183,228,722 while allowing incremental increases through contract options capped at $183,581,496.

The scope includes structural repair, system inspection, and modernization elements, not limited to collision damage, indicating integration into a broader availability cycle. The April 2026 award date aligns with a planned April 2028 delivery, producing a 24-month execution window consistent with depot-level maintenance for an Arleigh Burke Flight IIA destroyer. The USS Truxtun departed Naval Station Norfolk on February 3, 2026, for a deployment to the Caribbean under U.S Southern Command, supporting operations that include counter-narcotics enforcement and regional maritime presence. The collision occurred within the first week of deployment, resulting in immediate mission interruption and diversion to port. 

The collision occurred on February 11, 2026, during a replenishment-at-sea evolution conducted in the Caribbean Sea within the U.S Southern Command area of responsibility. USS Truxtun, displacing about 9,200 tons, and USNS Supply, displacing about 48,800 tons, were operating in parallel formation at close lateral separation, typically between 30 and 50 meters, while connected by fuel hoses and transfer rigs. During this phase, the destroyer made contact with the support ship, interrupting the transfer sequence. Neither vessel reported propulsion loss, steering failure, or flooding that would compromise immediate seaworthiness, allowing both to depart the scene under their own power.

Two sailors sustained minor injuries, with no fatalities reported. Damage levels were not publicly quantified but exceeded onboard repair capability, requiring a depot-level availability. The event remained under investigation to determine contributions from navigation inputs, propulsion response, and communication between bridge teams. Command action was implemented within about ten days of the incident, with the commanding officer of USS Truxtun relieved by Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of U.S Naval Forces Southern Command and 4th Fleet. The removal cited a loss of confidence in command ability following the collision, a standard administrative action applied prior to completion of a full technical investigation. Cmdr. Taylor Auclair, previously assigned to U.S Fleet Forces Command, was designated as the replacement commanding officer.

The destroyer was directed to Ponce, Puerto Rico, where inspections focused on hull deformation, alignment of propulsion shafts, and integrity of onboard systems affected by the collision. The timeline shows that administrative accountability was separated from technical causation analysis. This approach reflects the Navy’s requirement for immediate command responsibility in incidents involving navigation and ship handling, but also indicates that procedural execution during replenishment was assessed as a contributing factor. The USS Truxtun itself is an Arleigh Burke Flight IIA destroyer commissioned in April 2009, with a displacement of about 9,200 tons, a length of about 155 meters, and a crew of about 380 personnel.

The ship is powered by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines generating about 105,000 shaft horsepower, enabling speeds exceeding 30 knots. Its combat system is based on the Aegis architecture with the AN/SPY-1D radar, supporting integrated air and missile defense. The ship carries a 96-cell Mk41 vertical launch system capable of deploying SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, Tomahawk, and ASROC missiles, along with a 5-inch Mk45 gun, Phalanx close-in weapon systems, and torpedo tubes. Aviation facilities support two MH-60R helicopters for anti-submarine and surveillance missions. The destroyer’s operational profile requires periodic replenishment at sea to sustain fuel and ordnance levels during deployments, which places the ship regularly in close-quarters maneuvering situations with logistics vessels such as the USNS Supply. 

The USNS Supply is a Supply-class fast combat support ship commissioned in 1994 and later transferred to the U.S. Military Sealift Command, with a displacement of about 48,800 tons and a length of about 230 meters. The vessel operates with about 176 civilian personnel and 50 to 60 military personnel, combining logistics and operational roles. Propulsion is provided by four LM2500 gas turbines producing about 105,000 horsepower, enabling speeds of about 25 to 26 knots. The ship carries about 2.6 million gallons of JP-5 aviation fuel, about 1.9 million gallons of marine diesel, and about 2,150 tons of ammunition, along with additional dry and refrigerated stores. It can conduct simultaneous replenishment operations to multiple ships using fuel hoses and cargo transfer rigs.

Aviation support includes up to two helicopters for vertical replenishment operations. Its large displacement generates hydrodynamic forces, including wake and suction effects, that influence nearby vessels during close operations. Underway replenishment requires ships to maintain parallel courses at constant speeds typically between 12 and 16 knots while holding lateral separation measured in tens of meters. The ships are connected by tensioned lines and fuel hoses, which restrict independent maneuvering and transmit forces between hulls.

Hydrodynamic interaction between vessels includes suction effects that can draw ships together and bow wave interference that alters relative positioning. Small deviations in helm input or propulsion output can lead to rapid closure of distance, especially when combined with line tension asymmetry. Communication between bridge teams must be continuous to coordinate speed and heading adjustments. Environmental factors such as wind, sea state, visibility, and crew fatigue affect the ability to maintain stable alignment. These combined factors define replenishment as a high-risk evolution with limited tolerance for error.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.