GDEB receives Virginia Class submarine contract
General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) will build nine Virginia-class Block V submarines for the US Navy under a $22.2-billion fixed-price incentive fee, multi-year procurement contract for fiscal years 2019 through 2023.
Eight of the boats will have the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), and the contract includes an option for one additional submarine with VPM.
The Block V contract continues the Virginia class teaming arrangement between prime contractor GDEB and the major subcontractor, Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division (HII-NNS).
Block V submarines will incorporate acoustic design changes to maintain undersea dominance on all Block V hulls and the VPM, with four large payload tubes in a new hull section on eight submarines. This will increase Tomahawk strike capacity from 12 to 40 missiles per boat to maintain undersea strike capacity with the expected retirement of the navy's four guided-missile submarines and providing future payload flexibility.
Capt. Christopher Hanson, Virginia-class program manager, said: ‘The Block V contract balances the right mix of undersea quantity and capability with a profile that continues to stabilise the industrial base. This balance and stability will enable the success of submarine acquisitions across the enterprise.’
To date, the US Navy has taken delivery of 18 Virginia-class submarines, and all ten Block IV submarines are under construction. Contract delivery of the first Block V submarine is set for 2025.
Virginia-class submarines are designed to conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; irregular warfare and mine warfare missions.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement]()
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
![Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates]()
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
![Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat]()
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
![Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine]()
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
-
![Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first]()
Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group have signed a contract for three defence and intervention (FDI) frigates. Two warships will be due for delivery in 2025 and the third expected the following year, with the deal including an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.
-
![US senators raise Russian concerns over unprepared Coast Guard fleet]()
US senators raise Russian concerns over unprepared Coast Guard fleet
US Congress senators have warned that the US Coast Guard’s fleet cannot protect Arctic waters against Russian naval capabilities.
