The US Navy has awarded
General Dynamics Electric Boata $1.35 billion contract modification that provides funding for the construction of the eighth Virginia-class submarine and advance procurement for the ninth and 10th ships of the class.
The award modifies an August 2003 contract for the construction of six Virginia-class submarines at a rate of one per year from 20003 through to 2008. The total value of the contract is $8.4 billion.
Altogether, Electric Boat and its construction teammate, Northrop Grumman, have received contracts to build 10 ships of the class. The lead ship, USS Virginia (SSN-774), was delivered to the Navy in October 2004.
The contract modification provides $1.1 billion for construction of SSN-781, $208 million in advance procurement for SSN-782 and $40 million for SSN-783.
Fifteen percent of the work will be performed at Electric Boat's Groton shipyard; 15 percent at its Quonset Point, Rhode Island facility; 30 percent at Northrop Grumman in Newport News, Virginia; and 40 percent at other US sites.
Work under the overall contract is scheduled for completion in 2014 when SSN-783 is delivered.
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