Gates sees building all 3 DDG-1000 destroyers in one shipyard

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday during a press briefing about the Pentagon's strategic direction:

* Gates says building all three DDG-1000 destroyers in one shipyard would be more cost-efficient

* Gates decision to shift DDG-1000 work to General Dynamics contingent on restarting DDG-51 work at Northrop shipyard

* Gates says failure to reach agreement with industry on destroyer would result in construction of just one DDG-1000 by General Dynamics

* Gates ends briefing on Pentagon weapons programs

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa)