NORTH KINGSTOWN – The U.S. Navy on Wednesday announced an additional $5.1 billion modification to the contract awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat for its ongoing Columbia-class nuclear submarines project.
Hailed as “the nation’s next-generation, sea-based strategic deterrent,” according to the U.S. Department of Defense, the submarines are projected to be completed by 2030. The work is taking place at the Quonset Point manufacturing facility in North Kingstown, as well as in Groton, Conn. and Newport News, Va. The Columbia class will replace the aging Ohio class of ballistic missile submarines, which were also designed and built by Electric Boat.
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“This award enhances Electric Boat’s efforts to maintain the Columbia-class production and delivery schedule,” said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat, adding the modification “increases manufacturing capacity, reduces risk and ultimately drives timely delivery of submarines to the Navy.”
The 560-foot-long Columbia-class submarines will be the largest ever built by the U.S., and will be equipped with a fuel core that will power the submarine for its entire service life, “eliminating the need for a midservice refueling,” according to the company.
The initial contract worth $5.1 billion was awarded to Electric Boat in 2017. The company says it plans to deliver the lead ship USS Columbia to the Navy in 2027. Two of the submarines, the USS Columbia and the USS Wisconsin, are currently being built.
The total contract to GDEB is now estimated to be $17 billion upon completion, according to the U.S. Defense Department. Electric Boat is the prime contractor and lead shipyard on all Navy nuclear-powered submarine programs.
The company previously said they planned to hire an estimated 1,500 employees in Rhode Island this year. The Quonset Point facility currently employs approximately 4,000 people.
The cost to the U.S. Navy for the transition to the Columbia-class submarines has risen significantly in recent years, according to a 2021 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which projects the 12 vessels to cost $128 billion.
Christopher Allen is a PBN staff writer. You may contact him at Allen@PBN.com.
