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...
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
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
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...
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
USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118) at Bath Iron Works
A Gulfstream executive and retried Army officer has been selected by General Dynamic to lead its Bath Iron Works shipyard, the company announced on Wednesday.
Charles Krugh, most recently the private jet company’s vice president for supplier operational support, will now lead the Bath, Maine, shipyard – one of two in the U.S. that builds Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyers.
Charles Krugh
“Chuck’s leadership, proven track record in manufacturing...
https://news.usni.org/2022/05/05/general-dynamics-taps-gulf-stream-exec-to-lead-bath-iron-works