The US Navy has awarded contract modifications worth approximately $76.6 billion to HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) and General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) to support the construction of nine additional Block VI Virginia-class attack submarines and five additional Build II Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines.
As informed, the contract package includes $42.1 billion for the procurement of nine additional Virginia-class submarines and $29.5 billion for five additional Columbia-class submarines, alongside additional funding for shipyard infrastructure to expand production capacity and support workforce growth.
Under the long-standing teaming arrangement for the Virginia-class program, Newport News Shipbuilding will serve as the delivery yard for six of the nine planned submarines. For the Columbia-class program, HII's shipyard remains a key industrial partner, constructing and delivering six major module sections for each submarine.
"The contracts provide the American shipbuilding industrial base the opportunity to demonstrate that commitment in a meaningful way, and we are honored to serve our customer and our country," said Kari Wilkinson, president of Newport News Shipbuilding.
General Dynamics Electric Boat, which designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the US Navy, said the contract modifications provide long-term production stability for both the company and its supplier network.
"These important contract modifications provide Electric Boat and our suppliers with the demand certainty we need to continue investing in capacity and hiring the workforce necessary to ensure we deliver these important national security assets on schedule," stated Mark Rayha, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat.
Newport News Shipbuilding and Electric Boat have jointly built and delivered 26 Virginia-class submarines to the US Navy to date. The latest awards are expected to further strengthen the nation's submarine production capability as the Navy continues expanding both its attack and strategic deterrent submarine fleets while investing in the industrial base needed to sustain long-term construction.