General Dynamic Electric Boat

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

Report Columbia-class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine Program

The following is the Feb. 26, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress.

From the report

The Columbia (SSBN-826) class program is a program to design and build a class of 12 new ballistic missile submarines (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 wants to procure...

https://news.usni.org/2020/05/19/report-columbia-class-nuclear-ballistic-missile-submarine-program

Second Virginia Attack Boat Tops Navy’s Fiscal Year 2021 Unfunded Priorities List

Virginia-class submarine Washington (SSN-787) under construction in 2016 at Newport News Shipbuilding, Va. HII Photo

Money to buy a second Virginia-class submarine is number one on the Navy’s $5.4 billion Fiscal Year 2021 Unfunded Priorities List, USNI News has learned.

The $2.7 billion for the nuclear attack boat accounts for more than half of the request that also includes about 30 items ranging from additional aircraft, military construction projects, weapons and software upgrades.

The ask for...

https://news.usni.org/2020/02/20/second-virginia-attack-boat-tops-navys-fiscal-year-2021-unfunded-priorities-list

General Dynamics Highlights ‘Prudently Managed’ Investments Ahead of Increase in Sub-Building

Virginia-class attack submarine North Dakota (SSN-784) is rolled out of an indoor shipyard facility at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. US Navy Photo

As General Dynamics starts building two submarine classes simultaneously this year, the defense contractor is focused on showing shareholders and lawmakers that it can ramp up production while keeping costs in check.

General Dynamics Electric Boat, the company’s submarine subsidiary based on Groton, Conn., is in the process of ramping...

https://news.usni.org/2020/01/31/general-dynamics-highlights-prudently-managed-investments-ahead-of-increase-in-sub-building

Block V Virginia-Class Deal Meets Muted Response in Congress

Rendering of Block V Virginia-class submarine with Virginia Payload Module. General Dynamics Electric Boat Image

The Navy and General Dynamics Electric Boat appear to have reached an agreement to build nine Block V Virginia-class submarines with an option for a tenth, but the pending deal is getting tepid applause from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

The chair and ranking member of the House Armed Services seapower and projection of forces subcommittee released statements applauding a long-awaited...

https://news.usni.org/2019/11/04/block-v-virginia-class-deal-meets-muted-response-in-congress

Electric Boat Receives Half-Billion-Dollar Award To Help Submarine Suppliers Expand

Workers stand pose for a photo in the four-tube “quad-pack” built for the U.S. Ohio Replacement-class and U.K. Successor-class. General Dynamics Electric Boat Photo via US Navy

The Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat nearly half a billion dollars to help shore up its submarine supplier base through equipment purchases and plant expansions.

The Department of Defense 2019 Appropriations Act included this money, aimed at addressing the health of the companies that supply Electric Boat with...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/21/electric-boat-receives-half-billion-dollar-award-to-help-submarine-suppliers-expand

Navy: Lack of Submarine Parts Slowing Down Maintenance, New Construction

USS Hawaii (SSN-776) off of Oahu, Hawaii during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, July 9, 2018 . US Navy photo.

CAPITOL HILL – A competition for material between submarine construction and submarine maintenance is contributing to slowdowns in both, the Navy’s acquisition chief told USNI News today.

The Navy has more submarine maintenance to conduct than its four public shipyards can accommodate. As a result, the service has been shifting maintenance availabilities of its older Los...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/26/navy-lack-submarine-parts-slowing-maintenance-new-construction

Submarine Contractors Investing in Infrastructure to Land Future Contracts

USS Virginia (SSN-774) under construction at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in 2003. Electric Boat Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy is spending money on shipbuilding, but the industrial base is feeling pressure to upgrade its equipment and invest in training workers to land lucrative contracts.

A panel of industry executives representing both the largest Navy shipbuilders and smaller suppliers all detailed during the annual Naval Submarine League symposium some of the investments...

https://news.usni.org/2018/11/08/38188

Columbia-class Program Upping Oversight of Vendors, Components to Stave Off Further Delays

Gold crew of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN-743) arrives home to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash. US Navy Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy has no wiggle room when it comes to a planned October 2020 start of construction on the first new ballistic missile submarine, so the Columbia-class program office has cranked up its interaction with and oversight of vendors big and small within the program.

To stay on top of the major milestones – start of construction, delivery...

https://news.usni.org/2018/11/08/columbia-class-program-upping-oversight-of-vendors-components-to-stave-off-further-delays

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