General Dynamics lands $9B+ contract modification

The U.S. Navy on Thursday awarded the Electric Boat subsidiary of Reston-based Fortune 100 defense contractor General Dynamics Corp. a $9.474 billion contract modification to build and test the first two Columbia-class intercontinental ballistic missile submarines — the largest ever built by the United States — and provide related design and engineering services, the company announced Thursday.

The Columbia program will replace the aging Ohio class of ballistic missile submarines, according to the company. Electric Boat will perform approximately 78% of the construction at the company’s Quonset Point, Rhode Island, manufacturing complex. 

“Electric Boat has been making preparations for construction of the Columbia class for nearly a decade, including advancing the design of this critical Navy asset, hiring and training thousands of skilled tradespeople, modernizing our facilities and helping to bolster the supply base,” Electric Boat President Kevin Graney said in a statement. “As a result, Columbia’s design is more advanced than that of any previous submarine program.”

Four of the six super modules will be moved to the company’s final test and assembly yard in Groton, Connecticut, for integration with other components, according to Electric Boat. Construction is underway on a 200,000-square-foot facility for the Columbia-class construction.

Design for the Columbia submarines is almost 90% complete, according to the company.

The 560-foot-long, 21,000-ton submarines are expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2027.

Subscribe to Virginia Business.

Get our daily e-newsletter.