Navy League 2023: US Navy awards Leonardo DRS Columbia-class propulsion components contract

The US Navy awarded a contract for Columbia-class propulsion components. (US Navy)

The US Navy (USN) awarded Leonardo DRS contracts worth about USD1 billion, when fully funded, to provide the integrated electric propulsion components for Columbia-class strategic submarines, the company confirmed on 4 April during the Navy League Sea-Air-Space 2023 Global Maritime Exposition in National Harbor, Maryland, which started on 3 April.

The integrated electric propulsion components will be manufactured in the company's Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin; and Danbury, Connecticut, facilities. Additional content will be manufactured in the DRS High Ridge, Missouri, facility.

The Columbia-class programme is the priority shipbuilding effort for the USN, service officials continue to emphasise.

The USN fiscal year (FY) 2024 request includes USD6.2 billion for the Columbia-class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) programme, to replace the current Ohio class of Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines.

This marks funding for the first Columbia-class strategic missile submarine, which is slated for a 2028 delivery. Throughout the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), which ends in FY 2028, the USN expects to buy four Columbia-class submarines.

A decrease of about USD66 million for the overall programme compared with FY 2023, the FY 2024 request funds the following: the first two increments of the second boat (SSBN 827), future boats' advance procurement, and detail design and construction of Contractor-Furnished Equipment (CFE) and Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE). Advance procurement includes CFE and GFE long lead-time materials; continuous production of missile tubes; advance construction; economic order quantity for multi-programme procurement; and continuous production of shipyard manufactured items, according to budget documents.