Connecticut Congressman Joe Courtney says President Barack Obama’s proposed budget contains more than $5.7 billion to upgrade the Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet, with much of the development, construction and jobs coming to Groton.
Obama’s budget proposal includes $4.7 billion to build two new Virginia-class attack submarines, and to begin advance procurement for the next boats in 2013 and 2014, Courtney said.
In addition, the president is asking for another $1.07 billion to develop the successor to the nation’s fleet of Ohio-class nuclear-missile subs, also known as “boomers.”
Courtney said he helped the Defense Department secure more than $500 million to begin conceptual development of the new boomers.
This funding was used to develop the new boat’s missile compartment and nuclear propulsion system, and as a result General Dynamic’s Electric Boat division in Groton began hiring hundreds of engineers and designers to support the program. EB builds subs in conjunction with defense contractor Northrup Grumman.
Additional design and engineering work at EB, the congressman said, also directly led to the company’s expansion into Pfizer’s New London complex last June.
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