USN orders tenth Block V Virginia-class submarine
By exercising an option to order another boat, USN brings total spending on procurement of Block V Virginia-class submarines to almost $25 billion.
General Dynamics Electric Boat is building a tenth Block V Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) for the USN, under a $2.42 billion contract modification announced on 19 March by the DoD.
The SSN will include the Virginia Payload Module for Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Work will be carried out by Electric Boat and principal subcontractor Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding, with a planned completion date of February 2030.
The first Block V Virginia-class submarine is scheduled for delivery in FY2025.
In December 2019, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded a nine-boat Block V contract for Electric Boat. That $22.2 billion contract covers procurement from FY2019 to FY2023.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that nine of the ten Block V boats will be equipped with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) for launching Tomahawk cruise missiles.
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