General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a total of $12.4 billion in contract modifications for the construction of two more Virginia-class submarines.
GDEB is the prime contractor and lead design yard for the Virginia-class submarine series and constructs them in a teaming arrangement with HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) in Virginia.
The contract modification, awarded to NNS and teaming partner GDEB, authorizes construction of the 11th and 12th fast-attack submarines of the Block V contract.
“Over the past two years, we successfully worked with the Navy, Congress and the administration to secure funds that enable us to increase wages for the nuclear-powered vessel workforce and allow for significant additional investments in capacity, shipyard processes and systems,” said Mark Rayha , president of General Dynamics Electric Boat.
“We appreciate the teamwork that resulted in these critical national security assets being put under contract,” said Jason Ward , NNS vice president of submarine construction.
“We understand the advantage Virginia-class submarines bring to the sailors who operate them, and our shipbuilders are working with diligence to deliver them to the fleet.”
NNS and GDEB have built and delivered 24 Virginia-class submarines to date. The new units replace Los Angeles-class submarines as they retire.
The Virginia class has several innovations that ‘significantly enhance’ its warfighting capabilities, including in littoral or coastal operations.
Each Virginia-class submarine has 7,800 tons and a length of 115 meters. The vessel has a beam of 10 meters and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship.
Last month, the US Navy commissioned the 24th Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), the USS Iowa (SSN 797).