Columbia-Class Submarine Programme Receives Boost with New Contract Modification

The US Navy has awarded a contract modification to Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics' Electric Boat, valued at $2.2 billion, for the construction of module sections and design support for the Columbia-class submarine programme.

This contract modification is an extension of the previously awarded contract for integrated product and process development, which was secured by Electric Boat in November 2020. The company will provide six module sections for each ship, with the funds supporting the construction of the lead ship and procurement of components and advance construction works for the second submarine.

The Columbia-class submarine programme has been making significant progress over the past few years. In September 2022, Electric Boat secured a contract worth $120 million to supply generators for the programme. Meanwhile, Harris received a contract from the US Navy in July 2022 to deliver submarine imaging masts and spares to provide enhanced capabilities to the Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems delivered the first bearing support structure (BSS) for installation in the lead Columbia-class submarine in March 2022. Newport News Shipbuilding will deliver the completed modules to Electric Boat, which will undertake the final assembly of the submarines.

The contract modification also includes associated design and engineering support from Newport News Shipbuilding. The company received a previous contract modification worth $9.47 billion from the US Navy for construction and continued testing of the first two ships in the class.

In May 2019, Electric Boat received a $497 million contract modification to develop and expand the submarine industrial base in support of the Columbia-class and the Nuclear Shipbuilding enterprise. Preliminary construction works began at Electric Boat's facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, US, in 2017.

The two shipbuilders will engage multiple vendors and suppliers to perform the work, with Newport News Shipbuilding responsible for engineering analysis, development of components, detail planning, and technical services. Electric Boat acts as the prime contractor for the Columbia-class submarine programme, with 80% of the construction work being performed at their facilities and the remaining 20% taking place at Newport News Shipbuilding's facility.

Overall, this contract modification is an important step forward in the development of the Columbia-class submarine programme, which will provide the US Navy with advanced capabilities for years to come. The programme has already seen significant progress over the past few years, and these latest developments demonstrate the continued commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to the military.

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