Green Light For Two New US Navy Subs

General Dynamics Electric Boat and subcontractor HII have been given the go-ahead to build two more Block V Virginia-class attack submarines for the U.S. Navy in a deal worth at least $12.4 billion.

As per a recent Department of Defense press statement, options and productivity payments could push the cumulative value of the deal to almost $18.5 billion. To date, 24 Virginia-class boats have been built; the two new boats will be the 11th and 12th fast-attack submarines of the Block V variant.

The Virginia-class submarines have several innovations that significantly enhance its warfighting capabilities compared to the Los Angeles-class boats they are replacing, particularly with respect to  littoral operations. Virginia-class SSNs have special features to support SOF, including reconfigurable torpedo rooms which can accommodate SOF personnel and equipment, and large lockout trunks for divers. 

Instead of traditional periscopes they have two photonics masts with visible-light and infrared cameras, larger control rooms, and enhanced passive detection sonar capabilities.

And in place of the 12 individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes on the Los Angeles class, they also feature two large-diameter 87-inch Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs) each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles; the VPTs are cheaper to build and provide more payload flexibility. 

The newest Block V boats will also feature the Virginia Payload Module (VPM): four extra large-diameter payload tubes in a new central hull section, each capable of carrying seven Tomahawks, adding 28 missiles per VPM.

Construction of the new boats will begin immediately and works are scheduled to be completed by June 2036. They will chiefly be built at the GDEB yard in Groton, Connecticut, and by HII’s Newport News division at its yard in Virginia.

GDEB President Mark Rayha commented: “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.” 

He added: “This contract modification validates the unique and important role submarines and submarine shipbuilders play in our national defence.”

A U.S. Navy press statement noted: “The award signals the Navy’s commitment to maintaining its warfighting advantage in the undersea domain."

It continued: “To date, the Navy has taken delivery of 24 Virginia-class submarines, with an additional 16 now under contract.”

Program Executive Officer, Attack Submarines, Rear Adm. Jon Rucker, observed: “The contract award is the result of a highly coordinated contracting effort across the nuclear shipbuilding enterprise, to promote stability at critical suppliers as the submarine industrial base ramps up to meet a historic increase in demand for submarine production.”

He added: “We are continuing to work closely with the shipbuilders to improve construction schedules to support the Navy’s need for a larger, more lethal force.”

• You can read more details about the contract on the U.S. DoD website, the GD website and the HII website