The contract will support the shipyard’s acquisition of long-lead materials work ahead of full construction of the submarines.
The U.S. Navy has awarded a $2.3 billion contract to Groton-based Electric Boat for advanced construction of Block VI Virginia-class submarines.
The contract will support the shipyard’s acquisition of long-lead materials and pre-construction work ahead of full construction of the submarines.
“Putting down investments on long-lead items for Block VI submarines demonstrates that not only Congress but the Navy is investing in the Virginia-class supply chain,” said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.
But Courtney renewed his call for the Navy to issue the full construction contract for the Block VI boats.
“Congress authorized execution of the Block VI construction contract 29 months ago. It’s been long enough. The Department of the Navy needs to finalize the contract so that the full array of submarine suppliers have a clear picture of what their investment decisions must be,” he said.
The Block VI Virginia submarines will include upgrades to stealth and efficiency, as well as new sonar arrays and seabed warfare tools. They also will include the Virginia Payload Module, which expands weapons capacity and debuted in the second Block V submarine.
In its fiscal year 2027 30-year shipbuilding plan released last week, the Navy confirmed plans to procure the first four Block VII Virginia-class submarines in fiscal years 2030 and 2031, potentially extending Virginia-class production into the early 2040s.
