Navy Orders 10th Block V Virginia-Class Attack Submarine

The U.S. Navy has exercised a contract option for a tenth Block V version of the Virginia-class submarine to join its other Virginia-class subs, including the USS Illinois, shown here preparing to leave Pearl Harbor in 2019. U.S. NAVY / Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Hinton

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has exercised a contract option and ordered a tenth Block V version of the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN).

The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $2.4 billion fixed-price incentive modification to a contract for the SSN, according to a March 19 Defense Department contract announcement. Electric Boat subcontracts Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding for part of the work on the program.

This 460-foot, 10,200-ton Block V SSN, like seven of its nine sister Block Vs, will include a Virginia Payload Module, an 84-foot-long section of launch tubes which can fire 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles, in addition to the 12 launch tubes in the submarine’s bow, giving the submarine a payload of 40 Tomahawks.

Work on this contract option is expected to be completed by 2030. This SSN will bring to 38 the number of Virginia-class SSNs in the fleet.