$14 Billion Virginia Class Submarine Contract Awarded

Arlington, Virginia-  The US Navy announced on Monday that the contract has been awarded for the next 8 Virginia Class of Nuclear Submarines. It is a $14 billion dollar contract that was awarded to Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics companies, respectfully.

The two companies have been working together on various Defense oriented projects for the last several years, and this contract is for 8 new nuclear attack submarines to be built over the next five years.

This is the third round of purchasing for the Virginia class of US Submarines. It will produce one new submarine per year for the next couple of years. During the years 2010 to 2013 there is scheduled to have 2 submarines per year, for a total of 8 submarines between now and the end of 2014.

So far there have been 6 of these Virginia class submarines constructed, and each sub carries 132 Servicemembers, composed of officers and enlisted personnel, serving as a integrated team aboard the 377 foot long vessel. Each of the submarines will carry 12 Tomahawk missiles.

These submarines have incorporated a number of new design changes, and are the result of a challenge. The manufacturers were told in 2005 that if they could cut costs per vessel could be reduced that the US Navy would purchase 2 submarines per year. As a result the cost per submarine has been reduced by nearly $400 million dollars apiece.