Latest Virginia-class submarine, the future USS Iowa, delivered to US Navy

The US Navy (USN) Submarine Force has taken possession of its latest Virginia-class attack submarine.

SSN 797 (which on commissioning will become the USS Iowa) was delivered on December 22, 2024.

The 24^th Virginia-class submarine was produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), the 13^th vessel in the class made by GDEB, with HII-Newport News Shipbuilding supplying the others on a co-production contract. The SSN 797 had its keel laid down in August 2019.

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Meanwhile, the SSN 796 was commissioned as the USS New Jersey in September 2024, and the USS Arkansas, SSN 800, in December.

SSN 797 is scheduled to be officially commissioned on 5 April 2025 in Groton, Connecticut.

That will leave just one more Block IV Virginia-class submarines to be brought into service, the future USS Utah, the keel of which was laid down in 2022, to complete the ten-boat block.

The ten Block V Virginia-class submarines, each slated to cost US$3.2 billion, have already begun construction, and the first of those vessels is expected to be delivered in FY2025. The Block V delivery will cover the five years between 2025–30.

On the handover of the SSN 797, Virginia-class submarine programme manager Capt. Mike Hollenbach said: “The Virginia-class submarine represents a Navy and industry commitment to deliver warfighting excellence to the fleet.

“Iowa is the second Virginia-class submarine delivered this year. With each delivery, the Navy continues to strengthen its undersea advantage.”

The combined cost for Blocks IV and V of the Virginia-class submarine programme amounts to $42.2 billion.

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