General Dynamics Electric Boat Launches Attack Boat IDAHO 799

Thu Aug 15th, 2024

by SAM LAGRONE AUGUST 14, 2024

General Dynamics Electric Boat launched the latest attack submarine last week, Naval Sea Systems Command announced.

The future USS Idaho (SSN-799) was launched from the Connecticut shipyard into the Thames River on Aug. 6, according to the release. The attack boat will now be pier side for final outfitting ahead of delivery to the Navy.

“The submarine began construction in 2017 and will be the 26th Virginia-class fast attack submarine to deliver to the fleet and the fifth U.S. Navy ship named for the state. The last ship named Idaho was battleship BB 42, commissioned in 1919,” reads a statement from NAVSEA.

Idaho is the eighth Block IV Virginia that was awarded as part of a $17.8 billion 2014 multi-year contract awarded to EB.

Each Virginia block features a technology improvement over the last as part of the development of the platform. Block IV Virginias are built to have one less major maintenance availability than the previous attack submarines. The upcoming Block Vs will include the Virginia Payload Module that adds additional missile tubes to the hull.

Construction of Idaho was delayed because of workforce and material issues brought on in part by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Navy is currently delivering Virginia-class submarines at about 1.4 boats a year between EB and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding. Newport News builds the bow and stern sections of each boat, while EB builds the mid-section of each submarine to include the reactor compartments. The yards need to reach a production rate of 2.3 boats a year to meet the needs of the U.S. Navy and the Virginias planned for the Royal Australian Navy under the AUKUS program. The yards are set to hit their two a year goal by 2028, USNI News previously reported.

Meanwhile, EB announced earlier this month that the company’s current vice president and chief operating officer Mark Rayna will succeed to current yard president Kevin Graney on Dec. 1.

“Kevin has served General Dynamics with distinction for nearly 30 years, including tenures as president of both NASSCO and Electric Boat. His shipbuilding expertise and strong leadership have been instrumental to the performance and continuous improvement of both NASSCO and Electric Boat,” Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer said in a statement earlier this month. “Mark is a 35-year veteran of General Dynamics and is a proven and capable leader. His experience as CFO and COO of Electric Boat will ensure that we continue to grow to support our nation’s need for submarines.”