Under this contract, GDEB will provide « additional material (to include Long Lead Time Material and Economic Ordering Quantity) associated with the Fiscal 2019 – Fiscal 2023 Virginia class submarines (SSNs 802 – 811) », the Pentagon said.
The 10 Virginia-class SSNs this contrat is targeting will be assembled within the Block V improvement program. Construction is to begin in 2019, with first contracts for long lead material for the Block V configuration awarded to GDEB in Feb. 2017.
The Block V SSN will include the Virginia Payload Module, which would give guided-missile capability when the Ohio-class SSGNs are retired from active service. The VPM will add four additional payload tubes, each capable of carrying seven Tomahawk cruise missiles. The VPM tubes will be very similar to the VPTs utilized on Block III and forward ships.
Submarine forces is another center piece of the the FY2020 budget request the US Navy released last week, with the service expecting a $10.2 billion funding for three Virginia-class submarine in 2020 and $2.2 billion for the Columbia-class SSBN design and advance procurement.
Virginia-class SSN technical characteristics
- Total length: 114.8 metres
- Beam: 10.36 metres
- Displacement: 7,800 tonnes submerged
- Maximum speed: 25+ knots
- Crew: 132 persons
- Range: Unlimited
