General Dynamics Electric Boat has awarded Newport News Shipbuilding a contract worth up to $468 million to begin work on integrated product and process development for the US Navy’s new Columbia-class submarines.
Newport News Shipbuilding is a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries.
The navy awarded a $5 billion detailed design contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat on September 21. Newport News Shipbuilding is the subcontractor for the new class of ballistic-missile submarines that are being designed to replace the Ohio-class submarines.
The contract work, which began on October 1, allows for the completion of the design and also includes engineering analysis, component development, detail planning and technical services. Construction of the 12 Columbia-class submarines is expected to begin in fiscal year 2021, with the first delivery to the navy in 2028.
“This contract leverages the productive partnership we’ve built with Electric Boat in the construction of Virginia-class submarines,” said Dave Bolcar, vice president of submarine programs at Newport News Shipbuilding. “We are excited and ready to do our part to support EB and deliver these submarines to the Navy in an efficient and cost-effective manner.”