Northrop Grumman Corp. said Tuesday that the U.S. Navy awarded it a $268 million contract for continuing design work on the Zumwalt-class destroyer.

The contract funds further design and procurement of the DDG 1000, high-tech stealth-looking destroyer, and includes vendor-furnished information and long-lead materials through 2013, the Los Angeles-based defense contractor said.

The ship is the first in a class of the U.S. Navy’s multi-mission surface combatants tailored for land attack as well as maritime fighting. Work will be performed at Northrop’s Pascagoula, and Gulfport, Miss. shipyards, as well as its Washington D.C. Facilities. Northrop is the nation’s largest shipbuilder.

“This award reinforces the Navy’s confidence in our ability to execute the program to cost and on schedule,” said Northrop spokesman Brian Cuccias. “We are extremely proud of our past performance and look forward to continuing this positive momentum through production and delivery.”

Shares in Northrop were up 12 cents to $70.86 in midday trading.