HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division has confirmed that the US Navy’s 29th Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine has achieved its “pressure hull complete” status.
The milestone represents the finalization of combining the vessel’s hull sections into a single structure, preparing it for integration, outfitting, and field tests before commissioning.
HII’s work is part of the Pentagon’s strategy in the early 2000s to adopt a modern underwater fleet to replace the Seawolf-class submarines operational since the 1980s.
The defense department plans to build 43 Virginia-class platforms, 25 of which have already been delivered, and 24 activated since the program’s inception.
Virginia-based HII facilitates the fleet’s production alongside General Dynamics Electric Boat in Connecticut.
The USS Oklahoma
The new vessel, named USS Oklahoma (SSN 802), is the 14th Virginia submarine to be delivered under HII’s management.
It is also the first system in the series to incorporate the Block V upgrade, which includes major advancements to a ship’s payload module, strike capacity, and overall design.
The ship’s sponsor is Mary Slavonic, an Oklahoma native who supported objectives of both the South Central American state and the US Navy.
Among her most notable works is her aid to former acting Undersecretary of the Navy Greg Slavonic during the development of a memorial in Hawaii for the earlier USS Oklahoma (BB 37), a Nevada-class battleship commissioned in 1916.
The shrine honors over 400 sailors and marines who lost their lives aboard the vessel during the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
“Achieving pressure hull complete on Oklahoma highlights our commitment to accelerating production and delivering unmatched capability to our Navy customer,” said Jason Ward, vice president of new construction submarine programs for Newport News Shipbuilding.
“Our dedicated shipbuilders, Navy teammates and suppliers from across the country, are working hand-in-hand to bring Oklahoma to life.”
