Virginia Class Submarines

For Submarine Construction, 2008 was a Very Good Year

NEW MEXICO is the Navy’s 6th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine in the initial contract for 10 subs. On December 22, 2008, the Navy awarded a new $14B contract to the GDEB/NGC team for eight more VA-class subs, the first of which will be NORTH DAKOTA. Beginning in 2011, the Navy will double the current production rate by building two subs per year. The new contract calls for construction times of 60 months and costs to be held at $2B each (in 2005 dollars). The first 11 VA-class have been named and seven still need to be named.

SSN 774 USS VIRGINIA Commissioned Oct 23, 2004
SSN 775 USS TEXAS Commissioned Sept 9, 2006
SSN 776 USS HAWAII Commissioned May 5, 2007
SSN 777 USS NORTH CAROLINA Commissioned May 3, 2008
SSN 778 USS NEW HAMPSHIRE Commissioned Oct 25, 2008
SSN 779 PCU NEW MEXICO Under Construction at NGNN
SSN 780 PCU MISSOURI Under Construction at GDEB
SSN 781 PCU CALIFORNIA Under Construction at NGNN
SSN 782 PCU MISSISSIPPI Under Construction at GDEB
SSN 783 PCU MINNESOTA Under Construction at NGNN
SSN 784 PCU NORTH DAKOTA Fully Funded in New Contract
SSN 785 Unnamed In Advanced Procurement
SSN 786 Unnamed
SSN 787 Unnamed
SSN 788 Unnamed
SSN 789 Unnamed
SSN 790 Unnamed
SSN 791 Unnamed To be Delivered in 2019

USS VIRGINIA (SSN 774)                                            USS TEXAS (SSN 775)

USS HAWAII (SSN 776)                                             USS NORTH CAROLINA (SSN 777)

USS NEW HAMPSHIRE (SSN 778)

MISSOURI, which follows NEW MEXICO as the next VA-class, had her keel authentication ceremony at GDEB’s Quonset Point facility on September 27 th. MISSOURI’s ship sponsor is Rebecca Gates, wife of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

The VA-class submarine construction program has become the Navy’s most successful shipbuilding program. For submarine construction, 2008 was a very good year. Besides NEW MEXICO’s christening, and NORTH CAROLINA and NEW HAMPSHIRE’s commissioning, HAWAII completed operational testing for lockout trunk certification, and VIRGINIA conducted operational testing and evaluation in multiple mission areas, including the launching of three Tomahawk cruise missiles. These “high tech” subs help fulfill the Navy’s mission to deter aggression and maintain freedom of the seas. New Mexico is most fortunate to be honored with such a submarine.

The Virginia Class submarine is the first U.S. Navy combatant to be designed for post-Cold War missions. It is capable of operating in blue water (open ocean) as well as in the littorals (close to shore). The Virginia Class is designed for a full range of mission capabilities such as:

  • Covert Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
  • Special Warfare Operations
    • Dry Deck Shelters & UUVs
    • Advanced SEAL Delivery System
    • 9-Man Lockout
  • Anti-Submarine
  • Anti-Surface Warfare
  • Covert Precision Strike
  • Direct Support of Forces Ashore
  • Strike Group Support

Virginia Class Statistics:

  • Submerged Displacement: 7835 tons
  • Length: 377 feet
  • Beam: 34 feet
  • Speed: 25+ knots
  • Depth: 800+ feet
  • Weapon Payload: 38
  • Torpedo Tubes: 4
  • Vertical Launch Tubes: 12
  • Advanced Mobile Mines
  • Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV)
  • No Periscopes – Two Photonic Masts
  • Propulsion – 40,000 hp, Advanced Propeller in Duct
  • Power – S9G Pressurized Water Reactor (no refueling)
  • Crew – 134 (118 when deployed, bunk limitation)
  • Cost – $2.7B, USS New Mexico fully funded
  • Design Life – 33 years