APRIL 14, 2023 – Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday traveled to Groton, Connecticut, April 13, and visited General Dynamics Electric Boat with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.).
During the visit, they met with Electric Boat leadership, received program briefs, and toured shipyard facilities.
“We’re working side by side with Congress and industry to build the most ready and lethal fleet we can,” said Gilday. “Today’s visit is an important opportunity to see the progress and improvements being made by our industry partners in New England.”
Upon arrival, Gilday and Courtney were met by Mr. Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. Throughout the afternoon, the leaders discussed shipbuilding, talent management and workforce development, capacity, and capabilities.
General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs, and modernizes nuclear submarines for the Navy – to include work on the Navy’s new Columbia-class. These new ballistic missile submarines will replace the Ohio-class variant as the Navy’s contribution to the nuclear triad, which remains the most survivable leg of the U.S. strategic nuclear deterrent force.
“Whenever we talk about ‘the Arsenal of Democracy,’ our defense industrial base needs to be the centerpiece of that discussion,” said Gilday. “The work being done here in Connecticut is vitally important to our Navy, and I’m incredibly appreciative of the team’s collaborative efforts.”
Gilday last visited Groton in February 2022.
Electric Boat is the prime contractor on the Columbia program, which will replace the aging Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. The District of Columbia (SSBN 826) and Wisconsin (SSBN 827) are presently under construction.
The contract modification has a value of $5,134,324,189. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut; Quonset Point, Rhode Island; and Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by October 2030. The award funds advance procurement and advance construction of critical components and material to support Build II (the next five ships in the class), efforts to support continuous missile tube production, enhancements to develop the Submarine Industrial Base, and sustained class maintenance and support.
“This award enhances Electric Boat’s efforts to maintain the Columbia-class production and delivery schedule. Advance procurement of long lead time materials and component construction is critical to the program, and the strategic investments in the development and expansion of the Submarine Industrial Base will help stabilize and grow the supply chain, which increases manufacturing capacity, reduces risk and ultimately drives timely delivery of submarines to the Navy,” said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat.
At 560 feet long with a displacement of nearly 21,000 tons, the submarines of the Columbia class will be the largest ever built by the United States. Ships of the Columbia class will have a fuel core that will power the submarine for its entire service life, eliminating the need for a mid-service refueling. Electric Boat will deliver the lead ship to the Navy in 2027.