General Dynamics has been awarded a $517-million contract to provide components for the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines.
The order includes unspecified parts, specialized material, and spares to support initial maintenance activities.
According to the company, it will leverage its experience in building, repairing, and modernizing US Navy submarines in delivering the desired components.
“The shipbuilders of Electric Boat are proud to continue our role providing lifecycle maintenance support to the US Navy’s operational submarine fleet in keeping with our mission to provide sailors with the advantage that helps protect our nation,” General Dynamics official Kevin Graney said.
Work for the contract will be carried out in Connecticut and is expected to be finished by 2028.
Virginia-Class Submarine
The Virginia-class submarine is one of the US Navy’s most advanced underwater vehicles in terms of stealth, intelligence gathering, and weapons systems technology.
It is designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships using powerful Tomahawk missiles and MK48 ADCAP torpedoes.
Additionally, the class features a reconfigurable torpedo room that can accommodate a large number of personnel and their equipment for prolonged undersea deployment.
Through the years, the submarine has undertaken several innovations to significantly improve its warfighting capabilities and put more emphasis on supporting littoral operations.
The vehicle can carry more than 130 military personnel and has a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 kilometers/29 miles per hour).