US Navy awards historic $76.6B contract for 9 Block VI Virginia SSNs and 5 Columbia SSBNs

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 (HII-NNS) 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 contract includes a five-ship modification for Columbia-class SSBNs and a nine-ship contract for Virginia-class SSNs covering fiscal years 2025-2029. The awards aim to recapitalize the Navy's undersea forces and the nation's nuclear triad, ensuring continuous production and long-term stability for the shipbuilding industrial base. The Columbia-class is the Department of War's top acquisition priority, while the Virginia-class provides tactical strike and multi-mission capabilities.