The U.S. Navy awarded $15.38 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in the latest modifications to a long-running contract for design, planning and procurement, and construction of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines.
Electric Boat is designing the Columbia-class subs jointly with Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding subsidiary, as a replacement for the current Ohio-class submarines. In its announcement, the Pentagon noted the industrial base development work outlined by this modification will promote the Navy’s plan for serial production of Columbia- and Virginia-class nuclear submarines.
The overall contract for the Columbia-class subs was initiated in 2017, and with subsequent modifications to date it has a cumulative value of approximately $26.7 billion. The latest modification will support work at Electric Boat operations in Groton, Conn., and other locations in Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Recently, Hadrian Automation announced a new “factory of the future” to be built in Cherokee, Ala., to manufacture major components and submarines for the Columbia- and Viriginia-class submarines, including pressure hull structures, missile compartment modules, and nuclear propulsion components.
The Columbia-class is a series of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine developed to replace the Ohio-class, with an initial delivery in 2027 and naval service to begin by 2031. These are described as the largest and most advanced submarines ever to be built for the U.S. Navy, 560 feet long and featuring a 43-ft beam, with a displacement of 21,140 tons.
Initial construction for Columbia-class subs began in 2020 for the first of a total of 12 vessels, which are project to have a 42-year service life.
