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General Dynamics Electric Boat has awarded a US$70 million (AU$111.6 million) contract to BAE Systems to deliver Virginia Payload Modules for the fleet’s next Virginia Class submarines.
BAE Systems has been awarded a US$70 million (AU$111.6 million) contract by General Dynamics Electric Boat to manufacture Virginia Payload Module (VPM) missile tubes for the Block VI Virginia Class submarines.
“These missile tubes deliver critical firepower to the Virginia Class submarine fleet, a cornerstone of US national security,” said Charles Lewis, director of Submarine Programs for Platforms and Services at BAE Systems.
The Virginia Class submarines form a critical component of the United States Navy’s undersea fleet, designed for a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and precision strike operations. These nuclear-powered attack submarines are considered a cornerstone of US national security, with their advanced stealth, endurance and firepower capabilities setting them apart from earlier designs.
A key enhancement to later Virginia Class submarines, the VPM expands the boats’ strike capabilities significantly. Integrated into the hull, the VPM consists of four large-diameter vertical payload tubes, each capable of carrying up to seven Tomahawk cruise missiles or future advanced missile variants.
This upgrade dramatically increases the submarine’s offensive firepower, providing the US Navy with greater flexibility in both strategic deterrence and rapid-response strike missions.
“Continuing to manufacture VPMs at our Louisville, Kentucky, facility maintains our strong support to the industrial base, while also ensuring sailors receive the capability they need to protect our country,” Lewis said.
The Louisville facility, where these complex structures are built, is staffed by a highly skilled workforce with extensive experience in submarine component manufacturing. In addition to producing the VPM missile tubes, the facility also manufactures the propulsor for the Virginia Class submarine, as well as a heavy propulsor structure for the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarines.
With its established manufacturing capability and capacity, BAE Systems remains well-positioned to take on additional submarine construction projects, further bolstering the US Navy’s undersea warfare capabilities.
