Columbia class

FMD’s Hunt Valve books $96M in submarine valve orders

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management reports that its Hunt Valve business has booked purchase orders totaling $96 million to provide essential valves in support of the construction of 12 new Virginia-class and five Columbia-class submarines. The valves include ship service ball valves and forged high-pressure system valves.

The contract makes Fairbanks Morse Defense among the largest suppliers to these submarine programs. It also guarantees Hunt...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/fmds-hunt-valve-books-96m-in-submarine-valve-orders/

Electric Boat awards Austal USA $450 million to expand production capacity

In an ASX regulatory filing, Australia’s Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) reports that its Austal USA subsidiary has been awarded a $450 million contract by General Dynamics Electric Boat. The contract will enable Austal USA to expand production capacity at its Mobile, Ala., shipyard in support of the U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base (SIB).

The Electric Boat award will fund Austal USA to enhance its existing infrastructure by designing, constructing and outfitting a new module fabrication and...

https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/shipyards/shipyard-news/electric-boat-awards-austal-usa-450-million-to-expand-production-capacity/

Senate Panel Questions Navy Submarine Build Rate, FY2025 Virgina-class Buy

USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795) completing acceptance trials from shipbuilder Electric Boat on Oct. 3, 2023. US Navy Photo

The Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee chair said the Navy needed to “run fast” to catch up on delays to the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program and also meet the U.S. commitment of delivering at least three Virginia-class submarines in the 2030s to Australia.

During a hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) questioned Navy leaders how the service...

https://news.usni.org/2024/05/03/senate-panel-questions-navy-submarine-build-rate-fy2025-virgina-class-buy

Report to Congress on Columbia-class Ballistic Missile Sub

The following is the April 29, 2024, Congressional Research Service report, Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress.

From the report

The Navy’s Columbia (SSBN-826) class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) program is a program to design and build a class of 12 new SSBNs to replace the Navy’s current force of 14 aging Ohio-class SSBNs. Since 2013, the Navy has consistently identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy’s top priority...

https://news.usni.org/2024/05/01/report-to-congress-on-columbia-class-ballistic-missile-sub

SECNAV directs comprehensive Navy shipbuilding review

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has directed newly-confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition (ASN RD&A) Nickolas Guertin and Commander Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Vice Adm. James Downey to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the Navy shipbuilding portfolio.

The intent is to provide an interim progress review to Secretary Del Toro within 45 days.

The purpose of the review is “to provide an assessment of national and local causes of shipbuilding...

https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/secnav-directs-comprehensive-navy-shipbuilding-review/

Newport News Shipbuilding delivers first Columbia-class stern

first Columbia stern on barge

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division has delivered the stern of the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine stern to General Dynamics Electric Boat. Transported on GD Electric Boat’s Bollinger-built 400-foot-long ocean transport barge Holland to its facility in Quonset Point, R.I., the first Columbia-class stern delivery marked a significant milestone in the Columbia class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) program.

The first Columbia-class...

https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/shipyards/shipyard-news/newport-news-shipbuilding-delivers-first-columbia-class-stern/

GAO Report on Columbia-class Submarine Program

The following is the January Government Accountability Office report, Columbia-class Program Lacks Essential Schedule Insight amid Continuing Construction Challenges.

From the report

What GAO Found 

The Navy plans to deliver the first, or lead, Columbia class submarine—the largest and most complex submarine in its history—more quickly than it did for the lead submarines of prior classes, such as the Virginia class program. But the shipbuilder has not conducted a schedule risk analysis of the lead...

https://news.usni.org/2023/01/25/gao-report-on-columbia-class-submarine-program

Keel Laid For Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine District of Columbia

Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) approves the welding of her initials onto a metal plate at a ceremony at the General Dynamics Electric Boat Facility at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, on June 4, 2022. EB Photo

After inspecting the engraved plate with her welded initials, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) declared the keel laid for the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826).

The ceremony marks the ceremonial construction start of the first in a new class of ballistic missile submarine that’s...

https://news.usni.org/2022/06/04/keel-laid-for-nuclear-ballistic-missile-submarine-district-of-columbia

VIDEO: Attack Submarine USS Oregon Commissions in Connecticut

Crewmembers attached to the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Oregon (SSN-793) man the ship during a commissioning ceremony in Groton, Conn., on May 28, 2022. US Navy Photo

The second Virginia-class Block IV nuclear attack submarine commissioned in Connecticut on Saturday.

USS Oregon (SSN-793) ceremonially joined the fleet in a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London after delivering to the Navy in February – five years after the keel was laid in 2017.

“The passion, grit and enthusiasm...

https://news.usni.org/2022/05/30/video-attack-submarine-uss-oregon-commissions-in-connecticut

HII names Brandi Smith VP of Columbia-class program

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) reports that Brandi Smith has been named vice president of the Columbia-class program at its Newport News Shipbuilding division. She succeeds Charles Southall, who will retire July 1 after more than 35 years of service that began when he joined Newport News Shipbuilding in 1986 as an engineering intern in the submarine program. Since then, he has served in various roles of increasing responsibility. During his tenure as director of advanced submarine...

https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/shipyards/shipyard-news/hii-names-brandi-smith-vp-of-columbia-class-program/

+ More