Northrop Grumman Selected to Provide Turbine Generator Units For US Navy's ORP

: Posted On Friday, 30 May 2014 09:17

Naval Industry News - USA

Northrop Grumman Selected to Provide Turbine Generator Units For US Navy's Ohio Replacement Submarine Program

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract by shipbuilder General Dynamics Electric Boat to complete detailed design and subsequent manufacturing, assembly, qualification and delivery of the first turbine generator units for the Ohio Replacement Program (ORP), the U.S. Navy's next-generation ballistic nuclear submarine.

Artist impression of the future U.S. Navy's SSBN launching a ballitstic missile
Image: General Dynamics Electric Boat

The turbine generators provide all of the submarine's propulsion and other electrical power requirements. The ORP represents the first Navy nuclear-powered submarine to incorporate electric drive since 1974.

This award follows separate ORP contract awards from General Dynamics to Northrop Grumman's Marine Systems business unit for other ORP components.

"This latest award reflects Northrop Grumman's long standing partnerships with General Dynamics Electric Boat and the U.S. Navy," said Karen Campbell, vice president, Northrop Grumman Marine Systems business unit. "We are proud of our heritage and honored to be part of the Ohio Replacement Program."

The ORP plan is to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, which will be retired starting in 2027.