Tag Archives: General dynamics electric boat

Navy Considering Mid-Block Virginia-Class Upgrades, SSGN Construction in Late 2030s

Navy Considering Mid-Block Virginia-Class Upgrades, SSGN Construction in Late 2030s

The Virginia-class attack submarine USS North Dakota (SSN-784) arrives at the Trident Refit Facility’s Magnetic Silencing Facility (MSF) in August 2017. US Navy photo.

The Navy has developed a Tactical Submarine Evolution Plan that looks at rapidly inserting capability upgrades into the Virginia-class attack submarine mid-contract and considers long-term undersea warfare priorities such as converting the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) production line into a guided-missile submarine (SSGN) line in the late 2030s. Read More

Navy Report: Submarine Industrial Base Can Maintain 2-Attack Boat Construction Rate, Bolstering Lawmakers' Plans

Navy Report: Submarine Industrial Base Can Maintain 2-Attack Boat Construction Rate, Bolstering Lawmakers’ Plans

The Virginia-class attack submarine Pre-commissioning unit John Warner (SSN 785) is moved to Newport News Shipbuilding’s floating dry dock on Sept. 1, 2014. Huntington Ingalls Industries photo.

The Navy has confirmed that its submarine industrial base can continue building two Virginia-class attack submarines a year even while adding the Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine to its workload, giving a key congressman confidence in the House’s plan to boost submarine procurement in the coming years. Read More

Timing Of Destroyer, Attack Submarine Design Upgrades Creates Congressional Concern

Timing Of Destroyer, Attack Submarine Design Upgrades Creates Congressional Concern

An artist’s conception of a Raytheon’s SPY-6 radar on a Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer . Raytheon Image

The Navy wants to buy guided-missile destroyers and attack submarines in bulk but has plans to upgrade the designs of both after the purchase, causing some concern among lawmakers that the design changes could hurt the programs’ stable cost and schedule. Read More

Shipbuilders Want Predictable Budgets, Multi-Year Deals to Build the U.S. Navy's 355 Ship Fleet

Shipbuilders Want Predictable Budgets, Multi-Year Deals to Build the U.S. Navy’s 355 Ship Fleet

USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) before the christening ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine on Oct. 31, 2015. US Marine Corps Photo

U.S. shipbuilding industry could support the Navy’s ambitious plan to quickly grow the fleet to 355 ships, but would need help through stable and predictable funding, including more use of multi-year and block-buy contracts and advanced procurement funding, three top industry executives said on Wednesdays. Read More

Columbia Class Milestone B Decision Set For November After Shipyard Deep Dive This Week

Columbia Class Milestone B Decision Set For November After Shipyard Deep Dive This Week

A deck view, looking toward the bow, of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine OHIO (SSBN-726) with its missile tubes opened during precommissioning activities. The submarine, built by General Dynamics Corp., carries Trident C-4 (UGM-96) submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

A deck view, looking toward the bow, of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine OHIO (SSBN-726) with its missile tubes opened during precommissioning activities. The Navy is moving ahead with its Ohio Replacement Program, recently named the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program, to achieve lead boat construction in 2021, delivery in 2029 and deployment in 2031.

Navy and Pentagon acquisition officials this week spent a day at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Connecticut and Rhode Island, taking a close look at the Columbia class — formerly the Ohio Replacement Program — ahead of a Milestone B decision this fall, the Navy’s acquisition chief told USNI News. Read More

Navy Awards $101M To Electric Boat To Build SSBN Missile Tubes; UK Enters Manufacturing Phase On Successor-Class

Navy Awards $101M To Electric Boat To Build SSBN Missile Tubes; UK Enters Manufacturing Phase On Successor-Class

Workers stand pose for a photo in the four-tube "quad-pack" built for the U.S. Ohio Replacement-class and U.K. Successor-class. General Dynamics Electric Boat Photo via US Navy

Workers stand pose for a photo in the four-tube “quad-pack” built for the U.S. Ohio Replacement-class and U.K. Successor-class. General Dynamics Electric Boat Photo via US Navy

The U.S. Navy and U.K. Royal Navy’s replacement ballistic missile submarine programs both took steps forward this week, with the Navy awarding $101.3 million to General Dynamics Electric Boat to produce the first 22 missile tubes under the Common Missile Compartment program, and the Brits cutting steel on the first boat in the Successor-class program. Read More

Navy Will Decide In POM 2018 If It Can Build 2 Attack Subs in 2021

Navy Will Decide In POM 2018 If It Can Build 2 Attack Subs in 2021

The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) prepares to get underway for routine operations from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., March 15, 2016. US Navy photo.

The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) prepares to get underway for routine operations from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., March 15, 2016. US Navy photo.

If the Navy is going to maintain its rate of building two Virginia-class attack submarines a year even while building the Ohio Replacement Program ballistic missile submarine, the service must make that decision sooner rather than later. Read More