Navy awards $17.8 billion contract to build attack subs

Written by Marine Log Staff
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APRIL 28, 2014—The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, CT, a contract valued at $17.6 billion for the construction of 10 additional Virginia-class attack submarines.

Under the contract, Electric Boat will team with Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, to construct two ships per year over a five-year period. Construction of the first submarine, SSN-792, will begin May 1. The 10th ship to be procured under this contract is scheduled for delivery in 2023.

Virginia-class submarines are designed for anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support. These submarines excel in littoral and open-ocean environments and collect intelligence critical to irregular warfare efforts with advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

“This award has great significance for the U.S. Navy, our company and the entire submarine industrial base,” said Jeffrey S. Geiger, president of Electric Boat. “By continuing to produce two ships per year, the Navy and industry team retains the stability required to achieve increased efficiencies, providing the fleet with the submarines it needs to sustain the nation’s undersea dominance.”

“This is the largest number of boats ordered to date in a single contract block, which is great news – particularly in light of today’s challenging economic and political environments,” said Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin.

Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding already have delivered 10 Virginia-class submarines to the Navy: USS Virginia (SSN-774), USS Texas (SSN-775), USS Hawaii (SSN-776), USS North Carolina (SSN-777), USS New Hampshire (SSN-778), USS New Mexico (SSN-779), USS Missouri (SSN-780), USS California (SSN-781), USS Mississippi (SSN-782) and USS Minnesota (SSN-783). Eight additional submarines are under construction.

Virginia-class submarines displace 7,800 tons, with a hull length of 377 feet and a diameter of 34 feet. They are capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots and can dive to a depth greater than 800 feet, while carrying Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes, Tomahawk land-attack missiles and unmanned underwater vehicles.

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