General Dynamics Electric Boat wins $76.6B Navy contract for Virginia and Columbia-class submarines, largest in 127-year history

Published Aug 3, 11:22 PM UTC

General Dynamics Electric Boat received the largest construction award in its 127-year history on July 29, 2026: a $76.6 billion Navy package including $42.1 billion for nine Virginia-class attack submarines and $29.5 billion for five Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines, plus industrial-base funding. The company now employs over 27,000 people and plans to hire 8,000 more in 2026, expanding tradespeople in Groton, Connecticut, and Quonset Point, Rhode Island, as well as engineers in New London and Waterford. Electric Boat and HII's Newport News Shipbuilding currently deliver about 1.3 Virginia-class submarines per year, below the Navy's goal of two, while moving toward one Columbia per year. The Columbia-class will replace Ohio-class submarines as the most survivable part of the US nuclear deterrent. The article highlights the strategic importance of the workforce and production challenges.