Newport News Shipbuilding delivers Virginia class sub ahead of schedule

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subcalHuntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) reports that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division delivered the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine California (SSN781) to the U.S. Navy on Aug. 7. The delivery came more than eight and a half months early to the contract date and nearly five months faster than NNS’ previous delivery of New Mexico.

California recently returned to the shipyard following the successful completion of its third and final round of sea trials.

“This is the day that shipbuilders work toward,” said Becky Stewart, vice president for submarine programs at NNS. “Delivery marks the passing of ownership from the shipbuilder to the Navy, and we couldn’t be more proud of this ship and the shipbuilders that built her. Our team put a lot of hard work into this submarine, and it shows. California is the fourth Virginia-class delivery for us, and each successive ship has been delivered with the highest quality at a lower cost and shorter schedule.”

California is the eighth submarine in the Virginia class and the first delivered by NNS since the return of the Newport News Shipbuilding name. The ship’s construction began Feb. 15, 2006, and the keel was laid during a ceremony held May 1, 2009. California was christened Nov. 6, 2010, and launched Nov. 13, 2010. The commissioning has been scheduled for Oct. 29 by the Secretary of the Navy.

Newport News Shipbuilding is teamed with General Dynamics Electric Boat to build the 377 ft Virginia-class submarines.

August 8, 2011

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