The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a not-to-exceed $2.3-billion undefinitized contract action modification for Virginia-class Block VI submarines.
The modification, tied to an existing contract, covers long-lead time materials and early manufacturing as part of pre-construction efforts.
Work will be distributed across multiple locations in the US, including Sunnyvale, California; Chesapeake, Virginia; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
It is expected to be completed by September 2035.
Virginia-Class Submarine
The Virginia-class submarine program is the US Navy’s primary backbone for nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSNs), designed to replace aging Los Angeles-class subs and maintain US undersea dominance into the mid-21st century.
It is built for multi-mission roles, including anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, and support for special operations forces.
General Dynamics Electric Boat leads as the primary contractor, with Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding as its major construction partner.
The two shipyards alternate construction to maintain continuous production.
Block VI represents the latest iteration of the Virginia-class, featuring enhancements in stealth, efficiency, sonar arrays, propulsors, and seabed warfare tools.
It also includes the Virginia Payload Module for expanded weapons capacity, an upgrade that debuted in the second Block V submarine, the future USS Arizona (SSN 803).
