General Dynamics’ Electric Boat unit will handle “lead yard” services for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, a construction program for which it is one of two primary builders. The new award is a contract modification worth $152.4 million to the Groton, Conn., company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Late last year, Electric Boat won a share of construction contract to develop a new series of nuclear submarines, though currently the Navy has not approved any further construction plans for that program.
Under the new contract, Electric Boat will maintain and update design drawings and data, including “technology insertions,” for every Virginia-class submarine throughout its construction and post-shakedown availability periods. The cumulative value of the contract – including options -- will be $921.4 million when it is fulfilled in 2014.
The work will involve the engineering and design functions for Electric Boat, as well as construction, maintenance, and modernization.
The Virginia-class is a series of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines built by Electric Boat and the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. They are designed for a range of open-ocean or littoral (near shore) missions. Construction of the first vessel began in 2000, and the first submarine was launched in 2004.
To date, 10 Virginia-class subs have been built and are in service.
