US Navy awards historic $76.6B contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII for 14 submarines

Published Jul 30, 11:43 AM UTC

On July 29, 2026, the US Department of War awarded a historic $76.6 billion contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding for the construction of nine Block VI Virginia-class attack submarines and five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. This is the largest submarine deal in US Navy history. The Columbia-class submarines are the Department of War's top acquisition priority, serving as the most survivable leg of the nuclear triad. The Virginia-class submarines provide unparalleled stealth and multi-domain lethality. The awards ensure continuous production of both classes, supporting undersea dominance and industrial base stability. The Navy now has seven Columbia-class submarines under contract and 23 more Virginia-class submarines slated for construction, complementing 26 already operational.