US shipbuilder HII Corporate has been engaged in a US$305.2 million contract modification for material for two additional Block V Virginia Class submarines.
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The Newport News Shipbuilding division received the contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat to procure the long-lead-time material, bringing the overall contract value to $10.2 billion.
Jason Ward, NNS vice-president of Virginia Class submarine construction, said NNS is one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines for the US Navy.
“These funds are critically important to stabilising and providing predictability to the thousands of suppliers across the country who support the Virginia Class program,” he said.
“The submarine industrial base is crucial to our shipbuilding success, and we look forward to continuing to build these vital national security assets that will deliver to the US Navy with the latest technology.”
The advanced capabilities of Virginia Class submarines increase firepower, manoeuvrability, and stealth. The Block V submarine will reportedly feature an additional 28 missile slots in an extended section behind the sail and an increased total number of Tomahawk sized weapons to 65.