General Dynamic Electric Boat

Bath Iron Works President Dirk Lesko Retires

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in 2018. BIW Photo

The president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works retired suddenly this week, USNI News has learned.

A spokesperson for General Dynamics confirmed to USNI News that Dirk Lesko retired on Thursday and Robert Smith would serve as the interim president. Smith for the last several years has been the executive vice president for marine systems for General Dynamics.

When reached by USNI News, the International Association of Machinists and...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/08/bath-iron-works-president-dirk-lesko-retires

First Columbia Ballistic Missile Submarine Begins to Take Shape

The future USS Oregon (SSN-793) pier side at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard on Feb. 28, 2022. USNI News Photo

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. – The backbone of the Navy’s next nuclear ballistic missile submarine is starting to take shape in a series of understated white buildings on the edge of Narragansett Bay.

Building-sized sections of the future USS Columbia (SSBN-826) have been under construction at the General Dynamics Electric Boat facility at Quonset Point, under cover from the Rhode...

Attack Boat New Jersey Christened as Sub Construction Continues Pandemic Recovery

Ship’s sponsor Susan DiMarco christens attack submarine New Jersey (SSN-796) on Nov. 13, 2021 at Newport News Shipbuilding. Also pictured (left to right) are Cmdr. Carlos Otero ship’s commanding officer; retired Adm. Michael Mullen and Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding. HII Photo

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Nuclear attack boat New Jersey (SSN-796) was christened on Saturday as shipbuilder Newport News continues to recover from the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on submarine...

https://news.usni.org/2021/11/13/attack-boat-new-jersey-christened-as-sub-construction-continues-pandemic-recovery

Huntington Ingalls Says All Employees Must Be ‘Fully Vaccinated’ for COVID-19 By December

Ingalls Shipbuilding in May 2019. HII Photo

The largest U.S. naval shipbuilder is mandating that all its employees complete a COVID-19 vaccine regimen by early December, according to a company memo reviewed by USNI News.

To adhere to White House guidelines, by Dec. 8, all Huntington Ingalls Industries employees must be fully immunized, according to the internal message from HII chief operating officer Chris Kastner.

“While we are discussing the effects of this mandate with our union partners, it...

https://news.usni.org/2021/09/29/huntington-ingalls-says-all-employees-must-be-fully-vaccinated-for-covid-19-by-december

SECNAV Del Toro Tells Industry to Hold Down Costs, Resist Requirements Creep

Attack boat Vermont (SSN-792) float-off on March 29, 2019. General Dynamics Electric Boats Photo

The Navy needs to resist “requirements creep” in changing designs to complete its number one strategic priority, the Columbia class ballistic missile submarine program (SSBN-826), Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said on Monday at a virtual conference hosted by the Southeastern New England Defense Industrial Alliance.

Del Toro stressed that the defense industry needs to be equally observant in holding...

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/30/secnav-del-toro-tells-industry-to-hold-down-costs-resist-requirements-creep

Destroyer, Navy Tactical Grid Systems Top $5.5B FY 22 Navy Unfunded List

Ingalls Shipbuilding in May 2019. HII Photo

A second destroyer and funding for the Navy’s emerging tactical grid are on top of the Navy’s unfunded wish list to Congress, according to a copy of the report reviewed by USNI News on Tuesday.

Following Friday’s rollout of a modest $22.6 billion, eight ship shipbuilding plan that set aside funds for a single Arleigh Burke destroyer, the Navy wants an additional $1.66 billion for a second DDG.

“Funding a second ship in FY22 supports completing a...

https://news.usni.org/2021/06/01/destroyer-navy-tactical-grid-systems-top-5-5b-fy-22-navy-unfunded-list

Report to Congress on Columbia-class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program

The following is the May 12, 2021 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. The Navy has identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy’s top priority program. The Navy procured...

https://news.usni.org/2021/05/19/report-to-congress-on-columbia-class-ballistic-missile-submarine-program

GAO: Design Delays on Columbia Sub Program Leading to Construction Delays, Cost Increases

Artist’s rendering of the Columbia-class SSBN submarine. US Navy Image

The Government Accountability Office released a new report that warns Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine cost and schedule plans are at risk due to problems with a new digital design tool and cascading effects stemming from the design challenges.

The report – Columbia Class Submarine: Delivery Hinges on Timely and Quality Materials from an Atrophied Supplier Base – explains that Columbia program prime contractor...

https://news.usni.org/2021/01/14/gao-design-delays-on-columbia-sub-program-leading-to-construction-delays-cost-increases

Navy Awards $9.47B Contract For First Columbia-Class SSBN, Advance Work On Second Boat

Artist’s rendering of the Columbia-class SSBN submarine. US Navy Image

This post has been updated to include additional comments on the contract award.

The Navy today awarded a $9.47 billion contract modification to General Dynamics Electric Boat to officially start construction on the first ballistic-missile submarine in the Columbia class of SSBNs.

Today’s award covers the construction of the first ship, the future Columbia (SSBN-826), as well as continued advanced construction activities on the...

https://news.usni.org/2020/11/05/navy-awards-9-47b-contract-for-first-columbia-class-ssbn-advance-work-on-second-boat

Report on Virginia-class Attack Submarine Program

The following is the Sept. 24, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress.

From the report

The Navy has been procuring Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998. The one Virginia-class boat that the Navy is requesting for procurement in FY2021 would be the 33rd boat in the class. The Navy’s FY2020 budget submission had projected that the Navy would request two...

https://news.usni.org/2020/09/25/report-on-virginia-class-attack-submarine-program

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