The US Navy has officially taken delivery of the USS Massachusetts (SSN 798), marking the arrival of the 25th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine and the 12th such vessel produced by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding. The nuclear-powered submarine is the fifth Navy ship to carry the Massachusetts name and represents the seventh Block IV boat, a variant engineered to reduce maintenance downtime and deliver greater operational availability.
Construction on the Massachusetts began in 2020, with its keel-laying conducted virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. The submarine was christened in May 2023 by sponsor Sheryl Sandberg before being launched into the James River in February 2024. Its first sea trials, completed in October, evaluated propulsion, navigation, combat systems, and high-speed performance both surfaced and submerged. The vessel will undergo additional trials with its crew before commissioning next year.
More than 10,000 shipbuilders from Newport News and General Dynamics Electric Boat, along with thousands of suppliers across the US, contributed to the submarine’s construction. The work stems from a 2014 contract under the US Navy’s plan to replace aging Los Angeles-class submarines that have served since the 1970s. The Virginia-class program ensures continued undersea dominance and modern capability in both deep-water and littoral environments.
Virginia-class submarines measure 115 to 140 meters in length with a beam of 10 meters and are powered by a 280,000-horsepower nuclear reactor driving steam turbines and pump-jet propulsion. Designed for multi-mission versatility, the fleet carries torpedoes, Tomahawk land-attack missiles, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, enabling the Navy to maintain lethal reach beneath contested seas.
