Article Posted on : - Apr 29, 2014

USS Virginia. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

GROTON, CONNECTICUT (BNS): The U S Navy has awarded a record $17.6 billion worth contract for the construction of 10 additional Virginia-class attack submarines.

The multiyear contract for 10 Block IV subs will enable General Dynamics Electric Boat and its industry teammate, Newport News Shipbuilding, to build two ships per year over a five-year period with each yard delivering one sub per year.

Construction of the first Block IV submarine, SSN-792, will begin on May 1, General Dynamics said. The 10th ship to be procured under this contract is scheduled for delivery in 2023.

"This is the largest number of boats ordered to date in a single contract block, which is great news particularly in light of today's challenging economic and political environments," said Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin.

Virginia-class submarines excel in littoral and open-ocean environments and collect intelligence critical to irregular warfare efforts with advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The submarine displaces 7,800 tons, with a hull length of 377 feet and a diameter of 34 feet. They are capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots and can dive to a depth greater than 800 feet, while carrying Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes, Tomahawk land-attack missiles and unmanned underwater vehicles.

The US navy has already taken delivery of 10 Virginia-class submarines - USS Virginia (SSN-774), USS Texas (SSN-775), USS Hawaii (SSN-776), USS North Carolina (SSN-777), USS New Hampshire (SSN-778), USS New Mexico (SSN-779), USS Missouri (SSN-780), USS California (SSN-781), USS Mississippi (SSN-782) and USS Minnesota (SSN-783).

Eight additional submarines are under construction.