Tag Archives: Virginia class

Top Stories 2019: U.S. Navy Acquisition

Top Stories 2019: U.S. Navy Acquisition

This post is part of a series of review stories looking back at the top naval news from 2019.

2019 started with a surprise in the Navy budget request: the service needed to buy and test unmanned surface vehicles immediately to reach its ultimate goals for the surface force, and it was willing to sacrifice almost anything – including sidelining an aircraft carrier – to free up the funds to do so. Read More

HII: Block V Virginia SSN Contract Balances Budget Realities With Operational Needs

HII: Block V Virginia SSN Contract Balances Budget Realities With Operational Needs

Rendering of Block V Virginia-class submarine with Virginia Payload Module. General Dynamics Electric Boat Image

Negotiations to build the Block V Virginia-class submarines will likely result in a contract for fewer subs than what Congress authorized, than the Navy wants and than industry can build, a shipbuilding executive told Wall Street analysts on Thursday. Read More

GAO Says Columbia Submarine Risks Running Over Budget Due to Immature Technology

GAO Says Columbia Submarine Risks Running Over Budget Due to Immature Technology

An undated artist’s rendering of the planned Columbia-class submarine. Naval Sea Systems Command Image

The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, the Navy’s top acquisition priority, is at risk of running over its $115-billion construction budget because the service underestimated labor costs and overestimated the savings associated with awarding a multi-year contract, according to a General Accountability Office report released Monday. Read More

Navy Appoints Admiral to Oversee Columbia Sub Effort

Navy Appoints Admiral to Oversee Columbia Sub Effort

Artist’s rendering of the Columbia-class SSBN submarine. US Navy image.

THE PENTAGON – The Navy is standing up a new Program Executive Office for Columbia, pulling the ballistic-missile submarines out of the PEO Submarines portfolio and giving it a one-star admiral who can provide constant focus and leadership as the Columbia program moves from design into construction. Read More