Definitely Not the Stingray - Navy Invests in Future Undersea Dominance with $1.85 Billion Submarine Contract

While Down Periscope once (and in this writer’s opinion still does) represented the true spirit of the US Navy much in the same way Major Payne does for the Marines, those clunky old diesels have little in common with modern fast attack nuclear submarines. Keeping the fleet’s razor edge sharp being high on the priority list, the United States Navy has awarded a significant $1.85 billion contract modification to General Dynamics Electric Boat, signaling a major investment in the future of its undersea warfare capabilities. The contract, announced last week, is for long-lead-time materials and preliminary construction efforts for the next generation of Virginia-class fast-attack submarines, designated as Block VI.

This funding allows Electric Boat, the prime contractor for the Virginia-class program, to procure essential components and begin early-stage manufacturing. This approach is vital for stabilizing the submarine industrial base and ensuring the timely delivery of these advanced warships, which are expected to enter service in the coming decades. The work will be distributed across various states, with a completion date extending through September 2035.

The Block VI submarines are poised to be the most advanced attack submarines ever built, incorporating significant technological leaps over their predecessors. A key enhancement is the focus on "seabed warfare," enabling the submarines to operate with greater effectiveness in complex and contested undersea environments. This includes the ability to deploy and interact with a new generation of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), expanding their reach and sensory capabilities without exposing the main vessel.

These submarines will continue to feature the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), an 84-foot section that triples the Tomahawk cruise missile capacity to 40, a critical feature as the Navy retires its Ohio-class guided-missile submarines. The Block VI enhancements aim to further improve stealth, providing superior acoustic and non-acoustic signature performance.

This contract action underscores the Navy's commitment to maintaining its undersea superiority in an era of renewed great power competition. The development and construction of these submarines are a collaborative effort between General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII's Newport News Shipbuilding, which certainly guarantees welding and electrical jobs in the VA Beach area for the next decade, but by investing in the Block VI program the Navy is not only recapitalizing its fleet but also pushing the boundaries of submarine technology, ensuring its fleet remains a dominant force in the maritime domain for the foreseeable future. 

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