The U.S. Department of Defense awarded contracts on to expand the nation’s undersea warfighting capabilities, the department and contractors announced July 29.

The DoD awarded a five-ship contract modification to General Dynamics Electric Boat for the construction of five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), a nine-ship contract to GDEB and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding for the construction of fiscal year 2025 through FY 2029 Virginia-class submarines, and previously awarded shipyard productivity efforts to the two companies.

These awards represent a historic investment in maritime modernization and supremacy, the department said, with a combined total value of $76.6 billion.

The Columbia-class submarines will provide an effective sea-based strategic deterrent to meet U.S. Strategic Command’s requirements. The awards also support the fielding of enhanced Virginia-class submarines, a platform engineered for unparalleled stealth, heavy payload strike capability and multi-domain lethality. The Navy now has seven Columbia-class submarines under contract, complementing a force of 26 operational Virginia-class submarines with 23 more slated to be built.

“This historic investment underscores the department’s continued commitment to undersea superiority and the recapitalization of our nuclear triad,” Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, director, Submarine Programs, said in a DoD release. “By securing the continuous production of both the Columbia and Virginia classes, we ensure we will continue to deliver the world’s most lethal, survivable and resilient combat platform to our global combatant commanders, while providing long-term stability to our shipbuilding industrial base. These submarines will assure our allies and deter our adversaries while serving as a key part of our joint forces by projecting combat power into denied areas and defending our nation and its interests for decades to come.”

The awards also reflect the continued partnership between GDEB in Groton, Connecticut, and HII-NNS in Newport News, Virginia, working in tandem to forge the world’s most advanced and lethal undersea platforms.

“These awards represent a major milestone in our defense acquisition transformation,” Undersecretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey said in the same statement. “I commend Vice Admiral Gaucher and his team at the Navy for seamlessly carrying this forward to execution. This is how we rebuild the industrial base together.”

As the most survivable leg of the nuclear triad, the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine represents a modern platform of national security and remains the Department of War’s number one acquisition priority. Operating in tandem, the Virginia Class submarine is the premier tactical strike and multi-mission platform, ensuring continuous global undersea dominance. Together, these platforms present an unparalleled strategic deterrent to any adversary and an enduring commitment to global stability for our allies.

General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics, announced it was awarded $29.5 billion for five additional Columbia-class submarines, $42.1 billion for nine additional Virginia-Class submarines, and additional support for shipyard infrastructure.

“These important contract modifications provide Electric Boat and our suppliers with the demand certainty we need to continue investing in capacity and hiring the workforce necessary to ensure we deliver these important national security assets on schedule,” said Mark Rayha, 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, it employs more than 27,000 people.

 In the Virginia-class program, HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding will serve as the delivery yard for six of the planned submarines. In the Columbia-class program, NNS is a major shipbuilding partner, constructing and delivering six module sections per submarine.

“We are committed to building the nuclear-powered submarines that protect our nation,” NNS President Kari Wilkinson said. “These contracts provide the American shipbuilding industrial base the opportunity to demonstrate that commitment in a meaningful way and we are honored to serve our customer and our country.”