General Dynamics Receives U.S. Navy Award for Common Missile Compartment Development

: Posted On Friday, 10 January 2014 16:06

Naval Industry News - USA / UK

General Dynamics Receives U.S. Navy Award for Common Missile Compartment Development

The U.S Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $15 million contract modification to continue development of the Common Missile Compartment for the Ohio replacement submarine and the United Kingdom’s Successor ballistic-missile submarine. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.

A US Navy SSBN seen with all its missile tubes hatches opened
(picture: US Navy archives)

Electric Boat will procure long-lead-time material for the Common Missile Compartment’s integrated missile-tube and hull. Initially awarded in December 2012, the five-year, $1.85 billion contract calls for Electric Boat to perform research and development work for the Navy’s next-generation ballistic-missile submarine, which is scheduled to begin construction in 2021. The potential value of the overall contract is $2.3 billion.

This work will engage Electric Boat’s engineering and design organization, which comprises more than 4,000 employees. Possessing proven technical capabilities, these employees work on all facets of the submarine lifecycle from concept formulation and design through construction, maintenance and modernization, and eventually to inactivation and disposal.

The Ohio Replacement SSBN Program is tasked with recapitalizing American sea-based strategic deterrent in a cost-effective manner. The US Navy plans to replace its current fleet of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs with only 12 Ohio Replacement SSBNs. The first Ohio Replacement is scheduled to begin construction in fiscal year 2021, deliver to the US Navy in 2027, and conduct its first strategic deterrence patrol in 2031 after undergoing a rigorous testing and evaluation regime.