Article Posted on : - Dec 30, 2009

New Mexico (SSN 779) of the U.S. Navy. Image Credit: Northrop Grumman Corporation.

VIRGINIA (BNS): US Navy Tuesday procured the sixth submarine of the Virginia class, New Mexico (SSN 779) from Northrop Grumman Corporation.

According to a Northrop Grumman news release, the submarine was delivered to the Navy four months ahead of schedule.

"The New Mexico was completed with one million fewer man-hours than its predecessor, the USS North Carolina (SSN 777)," said Becky Stewart, vice president for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's submarine programme.

The 7,800-ton New Mexico is 377-feet long, has a 34-foot beam, and will be able to dive to depths of greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged, as earlier reported in a press release by the US Department of Defense.

The submarine New Mexico was christened on Dec. 13, 2008. The submarine is said to be the most sophisticated attack submarine in the world, providing undersea supremacy, as per the report.

The submarine is built to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; battle group support; and mine warfare missions.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding is teamed with General Dynamics Electric Boat to build the first 18 ships of the Virginia class.