US Navy negotiates for 10 new Block VI Virginia-class and 5 Columbia-class submarines.

The U.S. Navy is finalizing a multi-year procurement plan with General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII Newport News Shipbuilding for ten Virginia-class and five Columbia-class submarines, with contract completion expected by the end of 2025.

As reported by USNI News on October 30, 2025, the U.S. Navy is close to approving a new multi-year submarine contract that would fund the construction of fifteen new nuclear-powered submarines. The plan includes ten Block VI Virginia-class attack submarines and five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. Negotiations continue with Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding to finalize cost, schedule, and production details before the end of 2025.
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Congressional reports note that to avoid a drop in force levels, the U.S. Navy must sustain buying at least 2 Virginia-class attack submarines per year while also funding the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program. (Picture source: US Navy)

The negotiations, involving General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII Newport News Shipbuilding, have been delayed due to the rising costs of labor and materials, but are expected to conclude soon. According to HII President and CEO Chris Kastner, both the Navy and industry teams “are working very hard to get that done before the end of the year.” He confirmed during an earnings call that shipbuilding funding and contract discussions have continued throughout the federal government shutdown. The deal is structured to maintain the production rhythm required to replace aging submarines and preserve undersea strike and deterrence capabilities as older vessels, including Los Angeles-class and Ohio-class vessels, approach decommissioning. Discussions between the Navy, General Dynamics Electric Boat, and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding are focused on managing the timing of awards, material purchases, and labor flow to mitigate delays caused by fiscal uncertainty. The negotiations aim to authorize work even under temporary funding measures to prevent schedule slippage that would affect module shops, reactor fabrication, and outfitting operations.

Both shipbuilders have continued design and production preparations during the continuing resolution, supported by limited funding for advance procurement and supplier commitments. The Navy has also implemented workforce stabilization measures to limit attrition in specialized trades such as welders, electricians, and nuclear pipefitters. These efforts have been reinforced by earlier funding decisions, including an $18.5 billion contract awarded in April for the final two Block V Virginia-class submarines, the future USS Baltimore (SSN-812) and USS Atlanta (SSN-813), which included allocations for workforce compensation adjustments. The broader shipbuilding portfolio remains active, with the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) scheduled for sea trials this year and the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ted Stevens (DDG-128) having completed builders’ trials ahead of its planned 2026 delivery.

The United States operates the largest fleet of nuclear-powered submarines globally, divided between attack submarines (SSNs) and ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). As of 2025, the fleet includes approximately 50 active attack submarines and 14 strategic deterrent submarines. The nuclear attack submarines are primarily tasked with anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, intelligence collection, special operations deployment, and long-range conventional strike missions. The Ohio-class SSBNs form the sea-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad, maintaining continuous deterrent patrols with Trident II D5LE missiles. Nuclear propulsion provides the ability to operate for months without surfacing, allowing sustained presence in distant maritime zones. Current fleet modernization priorities are focused on replacing Los Angeles-class boats with new Virginia-class units and phasing out Ohio-class SSBNs in favor of Columbia-class submarines. Industrial capacity management remains a critical issue, as both submarine programs rely on overlapping facilities, suppliers, and skilled labor, creating the need for synchronized long-term planning.

The Navy’s undersea strategy emphasizes continuous presence, extended reach, and stealth to maintain operational superiority in contested maritime regions. Submarine operations form the foundation of the U.S. Navy’s power projection capability by providing both conventional and strategic deterrent options. Industrially, the production network supporting this fleet spans thousands of subcontractors across the United States, responsible for nuclear components, sonar arrays, propulsion systems, and pressure hull modules. The continuing multi-year approach is meant to strengthen this network by ensuring predictable demand, reducing cost overruns, and minimizing production gaps. Maintaining a consistent production rhythm across both submarine lines is viewed as essential to mitigating inflationary pressures, controlling schedule risks, and preserving learning-curve efficiencies. The industrial base supporting submarine construction has faced material shortages, workforce turnover, and increased costs in recent years, prompting the Navy to seek a multi-year approach as a mechanism to stabilize future production.

The Virginia-class program remains the central element of U.S. attack submarine construction. The upcoming Block VI configuration builds upon the previous Block V improvements, incorporating new sonar arrays, updated combat systems, and enhanced acoustic quieting. Each Block VI submarine will include the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), a hull extension housing four large-diameter tubes capable of carrying up to 28 additional Tomahawk land-attack missiles. The VPM increases total payload volume by approximately 75 percent compared to earlier variants. Funding for Block VI began in Fiscal Year 2024 with $1.5 billion allocated for advanced procurement for the future USS Potomac (SSN-814). The FY 2025 budget includes $3.6 billion for full construction of Potomac and $3.7 billion in additional long-lead materials funding for subsequent units expected in FY 2026 and FY 2027. The Navy’s objective is to sustain a consistent two-boat-per-year build rate to maintain supplier viability. Each Virginia-class submarine displaces approximately 7,800 tons submerged, measures about 115 meters in length, achieves speeds above 25 knots, and carries Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles as its primary weapons.

The management of Block VI production is being treated as a sequencing challenge requiring careful alignment between the final Block V deliveries and the start of Block VI assembly. The April 2025 award for Baltimore and Atlanta is intended to bridge potential production gaps and sustain the labor force through the transition to the new block. Shipyards are sequencing material deliveries and module integration to maintain a steady flow of work and avoid inefficiencies. Supplier contracts for nuclear reactors, propulsion systems, and acoustic coatings are being timed to align with the projected construction rhythm, reducing the likelihood of rework or idle facilities. The Navy has also expanded training programs and apprenticeship initiatives to replenish the specialized workforce required for complex submarine construction. Additional funding has been directed toward inflation mitigation for key suppliers and modernization of drydock and testing facilities. The goal is to achieve predictable delivery intervals and maintain industrial productivity without sacrificing schedule or quality.

The Columbia-class program represents the U.S. Navy’s highest strategic priority, designed to replace the aging Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines that have been in service since the early 1980s. Each Columbia-class submarine will be approximately 171 meters long, displace around 21,000 tons, and carry 16 Trident II D5LE missiles within four quad-packs. The design introduces a life-of-ship nuclear reactor core eliminating the need for midlife refueling, an electric-drive propulsion system for improved stealth, and an X-shaped stern for enhanced maneuverability and acoustic reduction. The lead vessel, USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826), is scheduled for delivery in 2027, followed by USS Wisconsin (SSBN-827) and USS Groton (SSBN-828), the first of the “Build II” group that will be covered under the proposed multi-year procurement. The Columbia-class will support the continuous at-sea deterrence mission through at least 2085. Infrastructure upgrades at Kings Bay and Bangor bases are being coordinated to accommodate the class’s unique design requirements and maintenance cycles.

Each Columbia-class submarine is estimated to cost approximately $10.54 billion, with the total program for 12 vessels projected around $128 billion. The multi-year procurement structure seeks to stabilize vendor pricing, secure material purchases for multiple hulls simultaneously, and ensure synchronized construction of both Columbia and Virginia-class submarines. Because both classes share industrial facilities, aligning their schedules prevents competition for limited resources and skilled labor. The combined plan also reduces workload fluctuations at Electric Boat and Newport News, preserving institutional expertise and minimizing overhead costs. This structure enables consistent production flow, timely delivery, and sustained patrol availability for the strategic deterrent fleet. By securing a stable procurement and funding schedule, the Navy aims to ensure that U.S. nuclear submarine production remains uninterrupted and strategically aligned with long-term deterrence and operational readiness requirements.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.