29 April 2024

Virginia-class submarine New Jersey delivered to US Navy

by Michael Fabey

Virginia-class submarine New Jersey was delivered to the US Navy. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) unit confirmed on 25 April it had delivered Virginia-class fast-attack submarine New Jersey (SSN 796) to the US Navy (USN) in a release, noting the SSN is scheduled to be commissioned later in 2024.

The submarine delivery comes at a time when the USN shipbuilding is coming under scrutiny – with the Virginia-class programmes being one of the efforts coming under intense focus – for running far behind schedule.

Not only is the Virginia shipbuilding programme off schedule, but lawmakers are questioning the recent USN fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget request for only a single submarine, when two were expected.

However, USN officials noted they are making the best decisions possible because of workforce and supply-chain issues that continue to plague the efforts to build submarines and other naval vessels.

New Jersey is the 11th Virginia-class submarine delivered by NNS and the 23rd built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.

The vessel is a Block IV Virginia-class SSN, and these submarines are of particular concern, according to USN officials.

Block IV Virginia-class SSNs are running about 36 months behind schedule, while Block V Virginias are running about 24 months behind schedule, according to a 45-day shipbuilding review of these programmes and USN officials who spoke about the review's findings on 2 April during a roundtable media discussion.

For more information about the 45-day review, please seeUS Navy seeks to address major programme delays caused by shipbuilding's new normal of worker and supply shortages.

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) unit confirmed on 25 April it had delivered Virginia-class fas...

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