The US Navy has awarded incentive contract modifications worth a combined $76.6 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding for additional Virginia- and Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarines. General Dynamics Electric Boat received $29.5 billion to construct five additional Build II Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and another $42.1 billion for nine Block VI Virginia-class attack submarines, along with funding for submarine production infrastructure. HII Newport News Shipbuilding will deliver six of the nine additional Virginia-class submarines and manufacture six module sections for each Columbia-class boat. Work will be conducted at shipbuilding facilities across the United States, with completion expected by July 2038. The Columbia class is being developed to replace the Ohio-class submarines and maintain the sea-based component of the US nuclear triad. The Virginia class will replace Los Angeles-class boats and provide capabilities including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, land attack, intelligence and special operations support. The awards represent a major long-term investment in America’s undersea fleet and submarine industrial base.
