The US Navy has awarded contract modifications totaling approximately $76.6 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding for additional Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines. General Dynamics Electric Boat received $29.5 billion to construct five additional Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and another $42.1 billion to build nine Block VI Virginia-class attack submarines, including funding for supporting shipyard infrastructure. Newport News Shipbuilding will deliver six of the nine Virginia-class submarines and produce six module sections for each Columbia-class boat. Work will take place across several US locations, with completion expected by July 2038. The Columbia-class is being developed to replace the aging Ohio-class submarines and maintain the sea-based component of the US nuclear triad. The Virginia-class is replacing Los Angeles-class submarines and performs anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, land-attack, and special operations missions. The awards represent a major expansion of US undersea shipbuilding and are intended to support long-term fleet readiness and production capacity.
