2023 - Press Release Archives

General Dynamics Electric Boat Awarded $217 Million Contract for Virginia-Class Submarines

GROTON, Conn. (October 16, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today it was awarded a $217 million contract for Long Lead Time Material associated with the construction of Virginia-class submarines SSN 814 and SSN 815.

The not-to-exceed, undefinitized contract totals $216,510,000. Work will be performed in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Spring Grove, Illinois; York, Pennsylvania; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Florence, New Jersey; Windsor Locks, Connecticut; Warren, Massachusetts; Salem, Ohio; South El Monte, California; Tacoma, Washington; and other locations and is expected to be completed by September 2034. The contract is effective as of October 13, 2023.

"This contract will enable Electric Boat to begin the acquisition of critical material and components for submarines that require substantial lead time to manufacture and deliver," said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. "Advanced procurement is essential to achieve the high-rate production the Navy requires of the submarine industrial base. A consistent demand signal is necessary for our suppliers to invest in and grow their operations."

General Dynamics Electric Boat is the prime contractor and lead design yard for the Virginia class and constructs the ships in a teaming arrangement with HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.

General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs more than 21,500 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at www.gdeb.com.

General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and generated $39.4 billion in revenue in 2022. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.gd.com.

General Dynamics Delivers Submarine Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795)

GROTON, Conn. (October 11, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat announced today it delivered the nuclear-powered attack submarine Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) to the U.S. Navy. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD).

Hyman G. Rickover is the 22nd submarine of the Virginia Class, which provides the Navy with the capabilities required to retain undersea dominance well into the 21st century.

"The shipbuilders of Electric Boat are proud to deliver Hyman G. Rickover, the second submarine to be named for the father of the United States Nuclear Navy," said Kevin Graney, President, General Dynamics Electric Boat. "Admiral Rickover set excellence as the standard for the United States' nuclear fleet, and we wish the Hyman G. Rickover and her crew a long and distinguished career that honors Admiral Rickover’s legacy."

Hyman G. Rickover is the fourth of the ten-ship group of Virginia-class submarines known as Block IV. These ships embody a Navy and industry commitment to deliver new submarines to the fleet with advantageous stealth and strike capacity.

PCU Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) departing Groton, Conn., for her final sea trials October 1, 2023. (Credit: General Dynamics Electric Boat) — PCU Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) departing Groton, Conn., for her final sea trials October 1, 2023.
(Credit: General Dynamics Electric Boat)

General Dynamics Electric Boat and the Metal Trades Council Agree to a New Contract

GROTON, Conn. (October 6, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), and the Metal Trades Council (MTC) announced today union members ratified a new, five-year collective bargaining agreement. The MTC represents more than 3,400 employees in the skilled trades at the company's Groton shipyard which includes welders, electricians, machinists, pipefitters, laborers, painters, transportation services and administrative support.

The agreement provides for significant increases in compensation and benefits, including:

General wage increases for all MTC members totaling 21.4% over the term of the contract.
Retention and sign on bonuses with the opportunity to earn up to $6,000.
A one-time, $2,500 contribution to the employee's 401k retirement savings account.
Continuation of a comprehensive, competitive medical plan with modest premium and deductible increases.
Increases to vacation days and paid sick time for most members.

The contract is effective as of September 30, 2023.

"This is the largest wage package in more than 30 years and demonstrates the value we place on the skills and experience necessary to build the world's finest submarines," said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. "This investment in our people complements investments by General Dynamics in our facilities and infrastructure and is a key element of our strategy to grow our production rate to deliver more submarines faster to the U.S. Navy.

"Ratification of this robust contract is a five-year ironclad guarantee of economic security for the Electric Boat metal trades workforce, which they richly deserve. It also sends a powerful message to the Navy and Congress, who fund their work, that the Groton waterfront is in for the long haul as our nation grows its undersea fleet, a decades-long enterprise. Kudos to Peter Baker and the Metal Trades Council team, and Shawn Coyne from Electric Boat Human Resources who spent months hammering out the many details of this historic contract," said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02).

"This new agreement will help attract and retain new employees while providing for the current membership," said Peter Baker, president of the Metal Trades Council. "This will also provide Electric Boat with a stable workforce that will continue to build our nation's defense. We want to thank the membership for their support throughout the negotiations process."

Electric Boat is in the midst of an unprecedented expansion to increase production of Virginia-class fast-attack submarines and the Columbia class of ballistic missile submarines. The company is the prime contractor for the Columbia class, designated by the U.S. government as the nation's number one defense priority. Electric Boat plans to hire 5,750 new employees in 2023. Interested applicants should visit EBCareers.com to see available positions.

General Dynamics Electric Boat Awarded $967 Million Contract Modification for Virginia-Class Submarines

GROTON, Conn. (October 3, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today it has been awarded a $967 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy for Lead Yard Support and Development and Design efforts for Virginia-class fast-attack submarines.

The cost-plus-fixed fee modification to a previously awarded contract totals $967,185,528. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut; McLeansville, North Carolina; Newport News, Virginia; and Newport and Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Work is expected to be completed by October 2024. This contract was awarded on September 29. 2023.

"This contract award supports critical work to further advance the capability and superiority of the Virginia class submarine," said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. "We are proud to continue our tradition of delivering this state-of the-art platform that ensures the safety of our sailors and their continued dominance in the undersea domain."

Virginia-class submarines are designed for the full range of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support.

General Dynamics Electric Boat is the prime contractor and lead design yard for the Virginia class and constructs the ships in a teaming arrangement with HII's Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.

General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs more than 21,000 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at www.gdeb.com.

General Dynamics Electric Boat Partners to Advance Additive Manufacturing on a Virginia-Class Submarine

GROTON, Conn. (September 25, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamic (NYSE: GD), and HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division announced today that the companies have advanced efforts to integrate additive manufacturing technology, also known as 3-D printing, into the shipbuilding process for nuclear-powered submarines.

The companies have focused on the availability and deployment of marine-based alloys, such as copper-nickel, to provide an alternative to traditional copper-nickel castings. Recently, a copper-nickel deck drain assembly was identified as a candidate for the 3-D printing solution. Working with shipbuilding partner Electric Boat, and supplier AMMCON on the model and proof of concept, NNS successfully created a copper-nickel deck drain part using additive manufacturing. AMMCON is providing final machining and assembly of the part, before it is installed on Virginia-class submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802), to be delivered by NNS.

"As a leader in additive manufacturing for shipbuilding, we are aggressively looking for opportunities to find ways to incorporate this technology into mainstream shipbuilding," said Dave Bolcar, NNS vice president of engineering and design. "This collaborative project leverages authorizations made by the Navy that streamline requirements for low-risk additive manufacturing parts. It is possible due to the foresight and longer-term development efforts by our engineers to deploy additive manufacturing marine alloys for shipbuilding."

"Our submarine design and engineering teams are focused on working with our supply and construction partners to speed the adoption of innovative technologies," said Megan Roberts, vice president of quality, waterfront engineering, radiological controls and fleet support for Electric Boat. "These first efforts to install additive-manufactured parts on submarines demonstrate the technology's potential to dramatically reduce lead times for critical components, which will enable us to deliver more submarines faster, supporting the Navy's fleet demands."

"We are honored to contribute to the ongoing success of the Virginia-class submarine program in this innovative way," said AMMCON President Darrell Grow. "As a longtime supplier for nuclear-powered submarines, our team understands the importance of these national security assets and remains committed to delivering the critical parts needed for their delivery."

As the lead design yard for the Virginia class, Electric Boat will continue work to incorporate additive-manufactured components into the construction stream. The highly digitized process could lead to cost savings and reduced construction schedules for Navy submarines.

General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs more than 21,000 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at gdeb.com.

A 3D printed copper-nickel deck drain assembly that will be installed on a Virginia-class submarine. (Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII).

General Dynamics Electric Boat awarded $517 million for Virginia-class submarine parts

GROTON, Conn. (September 20, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today it was awarded a $517.2 million delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement for procurement and delivery of initial Virginia-class attack submarine spare parts to support maintenance availabilities. Work will be performed in Groton and Pawcatuck, Connecticut.

"The shipbuilders of Electric Boat are proud to continue our role providing lifecycle maintenance support to the U.S. Navy's operational submarine fleet in keeping with our mission to provide sailors with the advantage that helps protect our nation," said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat.

General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs more than 21,000 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at gdeb.com.

General Dynamics Electric Boat Holds Keel-Laying Ceremony for Submarine Tang (SSN 805)

GROTON, Conn. (August 17, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today it held a keel laying for the Virginia-class submarine Tang (SSN 805) at its facility in Quonset Point. The keel laying is a ceremonial event in which the initials of the ship's sponsor are welded onto a plate to be attached to the submarine. It marks a milestone in the construction of a ship.

The submarine will be the third ship in the U.S. Navy to carry the name Tang. The first USS Tang was a Balao-class submarine, SS 306, credited as the most successful U.S. submarine of WWII, sinking the most tonnage of any U.S. submarine—33 enemy ships—on five war patrols over the course of just 14 months.

"This ship represents our ongoing commitment to provide the Navy with the most capable and lethal submarines it needs to ensure our country's freedom in an increasingly contested undersea arena," said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. "It takes a diverse team of talented and dedicated professionals to design, engineer and build these remarkable machines, and each one of us comes to work every day knowing the safety of our sailors depends on the work we do."

The ship's sponsor, Mimi Donnelly, is the daughter-in-law, wife and mother of U.S. Navy submariners. She was accompanied at the ceremonies by her husband, retired Vice Admiral Jay Donnelly.

Speaking to the audience of Navy personnel, invited guests and Electric Boat employees, Donnelly expressed her appreciation for the technical expertise and exacting standards required to construct a Navy submarine.

"As the wife and mother of submariners, when my loved ones went to sea I was comforted by the knowledge that their ships were the best in the world; expertly built, tested at every phase of construction and well-maintained—nobody does it better."

The keynote address was delivered by Vice Admiral William Houston, Commander, Submarine Forces. In his remarks, to the shipbuilders he stressed the importance of their work.

"All of you have made direct contributions towards protecting our Nation," said Houston. "You have designed and built a fleet of Virginia-class submarines that are at the cutting edge of technology and craftsmanship. Because of you, our Nation's Submariners stand ready to compete and win in all domains when called upon."

Donnelly joined Electric Boat welder Alison Fasulo of Warwick, R.I. to help weld her initials onto a steel plate, which will be permanently mounted in a place of honor on the completed vessel. At the completion of the weld, Donnelly authenticated her initials and declared the keel "true and fairly laid."

Tang is the 32nd submarine in the Virginia class designed for the full range of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support. Tang will be equipped with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM). The VPM comprises four large-diameter, vertical payload tubes in a new hull section inserted into the existing Virginia-class submarine design. The tubes enable the submarine to deliver a variety of capabilities, including weapons, unmanned undersea vehicles, and other undersea payloads.

General Dynamics Electric Boat is the prime contractor and lead design yard for the Virginia class and constructs the ships in a teaming arrangement with Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.

General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs more than 21,000 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at www.gdeb.com.

Keel-Laying Ceremony for Submarine Tang (SSN 805). (Photo by General Dynamics Electric Boat)

General Dynamics Electric Boat Christens Submarine Iowa (SSN 797)

GROTON, Conn. (June 17, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat christened the Virginia-class submarine Iowa (SSN 797) today at its shipyard in Groton, Conn. Electric Boat is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

"I am proud of Electric Boat's shipbuilders, and thank them for the skills, capabilities and commitment they bring to their work every day, resulting in this magnificent ship," said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. "Along with their dedication and hard work, Electric Boat's shipbuilders have a long history of innovation. We invest in cutting-edge tools and technology to deliver advanced capabilities in acoustic superiority, enhanced stealth, innovative weapons and new missions. We are committed to helping the U.S. Navy outpace our adversaries and ensure our nation's continued dominance in the undersea domain."

Christie Vilsack, an Iowa educator and advisor with a 50-year career in education and public service, serves as the ship's sponsor.

"In the name of the United States, I christen thee Iowa. May God Bless her and all who sail in her," she declared before breaking a bottle of sparkling wine from Iowa on the ship's hull to commemorate the christening.

The christening took place in the shipyard's Virginia-class assembly building in front of an audience of more than 3,000 people, including Electric Boat shipbuilders, members of the ship's crew, U.S. Navy personnel and government officials. The event was viewed live at numerous watch parties across the state of Iowa.

The keynote address was delivered by Under Secretary of the Navy Eric Raven.

"The Iowa will join the fleet at a critical time when our nation will need the most capable, most ready, most agile, and most lethal undersea fighting force to strengthen our nation's ability to keep the peace, or restore it, through decisive action," he told the crowd. "Iowa will add next-generation capabilities to our Joint Force. She will also be one of the first specifically designed and built to accommodate female and male service members, a commitment to supporting a culture of inclusion."

Iowa is the 24th submarine in the Virginia class, designed for the full range of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support.

Electric Boat and its partner Newport News Shipbuilding share constriction of the Virginia class in a teaming agreement. Iowa is the 12th submarine in the class to be delivered by Electric Boat.

The submarine will be the fourth U.S. Navy warship to carry the name Iowa and succeeds the battleship USS Iowa (BB 61). Commissioned in 1943, the ship transported President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to numerous international conferences before transferring to the Pacific Theatre to support the island-hopping campaigns and the Japanese Surrender at Tokyo Bay. The ship is now a museum vessel at the Port of Los Angeles.

A video of the ceremony along with more information on the Iowa is available at ebchristenings.com.

General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs more than 20,500 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at www.gdeb.com.

Christening of the Iowa. (Photo by General Dynamics Electric Boat)

General Dynamics Electric Boat Awarded $1.076 Billion Contract Modification for Virginia-Class Submarines

GROTON, Conn. (May 23, 2023) - General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today it has been awarded a $1.076 billion contract modification from the U.S. Navy to provide long-lead-time material and advanced construction for Virginia-class fast-attack submarines.

Electric Boat is presently under contract for construction of submarines in Block V of the class. The $1,075,896,000 in advance procurement funds from this contract modification will enable Electric Boat to purchase materials and major components for hulls 812 and 813.

"This contract modification sends a crucial demand signal to the submarine industrial base, enabling our suppliers to invest in the capacity and materials needed to increase production volume," said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat.

Virginia-class submarines are designed from the keel up for the full range of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support.

Electric Boat constructs Virginia-class submarines for the U.S. Navy in a teaming agreement with Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII. Submarines of the Virginia class embody the commitment by the Navy and industry to reduce costs without decreasing capabilities through a multi-year procurement strategy, continuous improvements in construction practices and cost-reduction design changes.

General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs more than 20,500 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at www.gdeb.com.

Statement from General Dynamics Electric Boat President Kevin Graney Regarding the AUKUS Agreement

GROTON, Conn. (March 13, 2023) - Today, the United States, United Kingdom and Australia announced the trilateral AUKUS partnership, which will provide Australia with a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine. General Dynamics Electric Boat has a long history of leadership in the design and construction of nuclear submarines from the beginning of naval nuclear propulsion with the USS Nautilus (SSN 571).

"We look forward to working with the Navy and our industry partners to use our knowledge and expertise to support Australia's acquisition of nuclear submarines and the development of that country's shipbuilding infrastructure. The AUKUS agreement underscores the critical role submarines play in the defense of our nation and our allies and calls attention to the importance of continuing to grow our submarine industrial base here in the United States," said Kevin Graney, president, General Dynamics Electric Boat.