The Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat $1.3 billion for long lead materials for the first Block VI Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines ahead of an expected multi-year contract between the submarine yard and the service for the class.
The award to Electric Boat comes ahead of a planned multi-year contract between the Navy and the Connecticut submarine builder, USNI News...
General Dynamic Electric Boat
Report to Congress on Virginia-class Submarine Program, AUKUS
The following is the June 12, 2024, Congressional Research Service report, Navy Virginia-Class Submarine Program and AUKUS Submarine (Pillar 1) Project: Background and Issues for Congress/
From the report
Virginia-class submarine program. The Navy has been procuring Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998, and a total of 40 have been procured through FY2024. From FY2011 through FY2024, they have been procured at a rate of two per year. When procured at that...
https://news.usni.org/2024/06/19/report-to-congress-on-virginia-class-submarine-program-aukus
Republicans Call for White House Shipbuilding Boost to Support AUKUS Attack Sub Sale
Virginia-class submarine USS Oregon (SSN-793) transits the Thames River during routine operations in Groton, Conn., on Oct. 6. US Navy Photo
A group of Republican lawmakers is calling on the Biden administration to boost submarine industrial base support with a claim the U.S. submarine force could be at risk if Washington goes through with the sale of Virginia-class nuclear attack boats to the Royal Australian Navy, according to the letter obtained by USNI News.
On Wednesday, the group of 22...
Senate Bill Sets Up AUKUS Sub Buy as U.S. Industrial Capacity Questions Linger
USS Vermont (SSN-792) makes her way up the Thames River and past the City of New London as she returns home after conducting routine operations to Submarine Base New London on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. US Navy Photo
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The U.S. Senate took a tangible step forward to supply the Royal Australian Navy with its own nuclear attack boats with a new AUKUS bill that sets a framework to transfer Virginia-class attack boats to Canberra by the 2030s, Sen Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told reporters on...
White House ‘Confident’ In AUKUS Plan for Australian Nuclear-powered Submarine Fleet
President Joe Biden greets British Prime Minister Rishi Surnak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese the AUKUS bilateral meeting in San Diego, Calif, March 13, 2023. DoD Photo
The White House’s senior coordinator for the Indo-Pacific is “confident” that Australia, the United Kingdom and United States can meet the challenge of Canberra fielding its own nuclear-powered submarine force.
Speaking Monday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Kurt Campbell said that after 18...
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
Top Stories 2022: U.S. Navy Acquisition
The future USS Oregon (SSN-788) pierside at General Dynamics Electric Boat on Feb. 28, 2022. USNI News Photo
This post is part of a series looking back at the top naval stories from 2022.
This year saw the U.S. Navy moving down an acquisition path with more certainty than in 2021.
With the Biden administration embarking on its second budget cycle, the U.S. Navy released its first long-range shipbuilding plan in several years, providing more clarity to the industrial base on where the service is...
Navy Issues General Dynamics Electric Boat $5.1B Contract Mod for Columbia-Class Submarine Program
Artist’s rendering of the Columbia-class SSBN submarine. US Navy Image
The Navy on Wednesday issued General Dynamics Electric Boat a $5.1 billion contract modification for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine contract.
The modification is for spare parts, long lead items for missile tubes, making the missile tubes, sustainment work both for Columbia and the United Kingdom’s Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarine program, and other advanced procurement items, according to the...
Report to Congress on SSN(X) Next-Generation Attack Submarine
The following is the Dec. 13, 2022, Congressional Research In Focus report, Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress.
From the report
The Navy wants to begin procuring a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), called the Next-Generation Attack Submarine or SSN(X), in the mid-2030s. The SSN(X) would be the successor to the Virginia-class SSN design, which the Navy has been procuring since FY1998. The Navy’s proposed FY2023 budget...
https://news.usni.org/2022/12/14/report-to-congress-on-ssnx-next-generation-attack-submarine
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...