The U.S. Navy has awarded a $22.2 billion contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat for nine Block V Virginia class submarines, of which eight will be equipped with the Virginia Payload Module that increases Tomahawk missile capacity to 40 missiles from 12. The contract contains an option for a 10th submarine that would also be equipped with the VPM. The multiyear contract covers submarines procured between FY19 and FY23.
Virginia class submarines are built by Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding, with Electric Boat serving as prime contractor. Newport News will serve as the delivery yard for five of the planned submarines.
The Block V subs will be delivered between 2025 and 2029.
As editor of International Military Markets, North America, Shaun has cultivated a deep understanding of the vast defense markets in the United States and Canada. Shaun's perspective on defense procurement and budget issues has been cited in a variety of defense periodicals, including Defense News and National Defense Magazine. Further, Shaun played an integral role in the development of Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast product, which offers an unprecedented level of insight into the Pentagon's acquisition budget. In addition to providing original analytical content for the U.S. Defense Budget Forecast, Shaun oversees an internal defense budget forecasting process involving Forecast International's team of skilled systems analysts following release of the DoD's annual budget request. Shaun is also in charge of managing Forecast International's Weapons Inventory database.
