General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) has secured a contract modification worth $1.06bn to procure long lead time materials for the construction of Virginia-class Block VI submarines.
This comes after GDEB’s announcement of a contract modification to provide long lead time materials for the submarine programme last year.
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GDEB is the prime contractor and lead design yard for the Virginia-class. It builds the vessels in a teaming arrangement with HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding.
Work under the contract will be carried out across various locations, with a portion taking place in Sunnyvale, California. Other work sites include Florence, New Jersey, and York, Pennsylvania, among others.
The project is expected to reach completion by September 2035.
Funding for the contract will come from the fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds.
General Dynamics Electric Boat president Mark Rayha said: “This contract modification drives continuation of the crucial demand signal that the submarine industrial base needs to invest in the capacity and materials required to increase production volume.
“Consistent funding for the supply base is essential to achieve the high-rate production the Navy requires of the entire submarine enterprise.”
The Virginia-class submarines are designed to meet an array of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine warfare, surface ship warfare, and special operations support.
The US Navy has been engaged in the acquisition of Virginia-class (SSN-774) nuclear-powered attack submarines since the fiscal year 1998. By the fiscal year 2024, the Navy’s procurement efforts have resulted in a total of 40 such submarines.
The Virginia-class submarines come equipped with a range of advancements that bolster their combat effectiveness, particularly in coastal environments. These vessels boast unique capabilities designed to aid Special Operations Forces (SOF).
Among these is a versatile torpedo room that can be adapted to house an extensive contingent of SOF members along with their full gear for extended missions. Additionally, the class is prepared to integrate future external payloads.
According to Congressional Research Service report, the budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 from the Navy includes a request for funds to acquire an additional Virginia-class submarine, which would become the 41st vessel of its class.
