UK to join US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine assembly effort to speed up construction
The Virginia-class SSNs are fitted with the latest sensors and weapons to assist in sea control, land attack, electronic warfare and special operations. (Photo: John Narewski/US Navy)
The expansion of the Virginia-class submarine construction to UK shores could accelerate the project as US shipbuilders continue to fall short of delivery goals.
A contract to complete specific work on the US Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines has been outsourced for the first time to Babcock International in the UK, allowing the company to build complex submarine assemblies at its Rosyth shipyard in Scotland.
Babcock and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on 9 December they had signed a contract to expand their strategic partnership to support construction of the submarines and “increase throughput at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division”. HII currently builds the submarines at NNS alongside General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), which carries out some of the work at its Groton, Connecticut site.
The contract is expected to
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Quantum Systems enters maritime domain with Baltic-focused USV and UUV]()
Quantum Systems enters maritime domain with Baltic-focused USV and UUV
Quantum Systems has launched into the maritime domain with Seavex and Subvex, aiming to close a Baltic Sea ISR gap opened by infrastructure sabotage.
-
![Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition]()
Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition
Australia’s mine countermeasure capability remains in flux as the Huon-class nears retirement, but accelerated investment in autonomous systems is opening a path for industry.
-
![Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?]()
Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?
As the Iran War draws US ships and marine corps units away from the Indo-Pacific, curtailed exercises and a temporary carrier gap are exposing tensions between Washington’s demand for more self-reliant allies and the joint training needed to realise that ambition.
-
![How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?]()
How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?
With Canada committed to its River-class replacement and the USN pursuing a lower-cost frigate, Rheinmetall will need to demonstrate where the GMF 140 can fill a capability gap in the North American fleet.
