Article Posted on : - Jul 06, 2011

California, the eighth ship of the Virginia class of submarines. Photo by Huntington Ingalls Industries

NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA (BNS): Huntington Ingalls Industries newest and most advanced nuclear-powered submarine ‘California’ (SSN 781) has completed the first round of sea trials.

The submarine returned to the company's Newport News Shipbuilding on July 2 with a broom on its mast, symbolizing a "clean sweep" and successful sea trial.

California, the eighth ship of the class and named to honour the "Golden State," is in the final stages of testing at HII's Newport News shipyard.

Upon delivery to the Navy later this year, California will be the most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, providing undersea supremacy well into the 21st century, a company statement said.

Newport News Shipbuilding, one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines, is teamed with General Dynamics Electric Boat to build Virginia-class submarines.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) designs, builds and maintains nuclear and non-nuclear ships for the US Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe.