On December 7, HII announced the christening of the USS Arkansas (SSN 800), the 27th Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine for the United States Navy, which is set to be delivered tomorrow to the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. This vessel not only represents the pinnacle of U.S. submarine force capabilities but also marks significant progress in the delivery schedule for the new generation of such units.
In early October 2023, HII confirmed that the USS Arkansas was in an advanced stage of construction, with all hull sections joined to form a sealed hull structure. This milestone marked the start of the final construction phase, leading to its christening at the NNS shipyard, one of only two facilities capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines.
This achievement adds to other recent milestones, such as the launch of the USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) and the floating of the USS Idaho (SSN-799) earlier this year, the keel authentication of the USS Oklahoma (SSN 802) at NNS in 2023, and the commissioning of the USS New Jersey (SSN 796), the 11th of this class delivered by Newport News Shipbuilding and the 23rd constructed under the collaboration agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat. These advancements further enhance the Navy’s firepower, stealth, and maneuverability.
Both the Arkansas and the previously mentioned submarines belong to Block IV of the Virginia class, featuring design changes aimed at reducing the total cost of ownership (RTOC). These smaller-scale design adjustments extend the lifecycle of submarine components. The U.S. Navy plans to incorporate 66 Virginia-class submarines to replace the aging Los Angeles-class vessels.
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