HII cuts steel for Columbia-class submarine programme
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has cut first steel for the US Navy’s new Columbia-class submarine programme, the company announced on 23 May.
The steel cutting ceremony took place at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. The event also marked the first class of submarines that will be built using fully digital blueprints at Newport News.
Newport News is performing advance construction activities under a contract the shipyard received from General Dynamics Electric Boat. The Columbia-class boats will replace the fleet of Ohio-class nuclear ballistic submarines.
Construction of the 12-boat Columbia class will take place in Virginia, Rhode Island and Connecticut, with Electric Boat assembling and delivering all of the submarines. The lead boat is scheduled to be delivered to the navy in 2027.
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