General Dynamics Corp.'s Electric Boat business placed a $544-million contract with AECOM to complete construction of the South Yard Assembly Building (SYAB), the centerpiece of the largest expansion in 50 years at the company’s Groton, Conn., shipyard. The project, which began last September, is in preparation for building the U.S. Navy's new Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
"General Dynamics Electric Boat continues to make investments – in facilities, in our supply chain and in the next generation of shipbuilders – to support the Columbia-class, the Navy’s top strategic priority," stated Electric Boat president Kevin Graney. "Efficient completion of the SYAB will position us to begin delivering the next-generation of ballistic submarines in advance of the Ohio-class retiring from service."
When completed, the new, 200,000 sq.-ft SYAB will host up to 1,400 workers building 12 Columbia-class subs to the U.S. Navy.
Electric Boat also is expanding and modernizing other manufacturing facilities at the Groton shipyard, and building a floating dry dock. Electric Boat will continue to build the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.
Construction of the new Columbia-class submarines will begin in 2021, and the first vessel will enter service in 2031.
Electric Boat is the prime contractor for design and construction of 12 ships of the Columbia-class. Early construction began in 2017 at Quonset Point, R.I. Final assembly and testing of new subs will begin in 2024 at the Groton shipyard.
The overall investment for modernization and upgrades at Groton in preparation for the Columbia program is $1.7 billion, General Dynamics noted.
