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Defence industries

Navy Awards $125 Million Contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat for Submarine Maintenance

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Congressman Joe Courtney, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, welcomed the U.S. Navy's decision to award a new planning contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) in Groton, CT, for the future maintenance availability of the USS Hartford (SSN-768). The contract, valued at over $125 million, is expected to support work at the Groton Shipyard through February 2022. The announcement comes as the Navy faces increasing demand for submarines, and private yards like Electric Boat are ready to take on critical maintenance work.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Navy has awarded a new planning contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) worth over $125 million for the maintenance availability of the USS Hartford (SSN-768).
  • The contract is expected to support work at the Groton Shipyard through February 2022.
  • Congressman Joe Courtney, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, welcomed the Navy's decision, citing the value of private shipyards in maintaining the submarine fleet.
  • The House voted in bipartisan fashion to restore the missing second Virginia-class submarine to next year's budget.
  • Private yards like Electric Boat are ready to take on critical maintenance work at a time when public shipyards are operating above capacity.
  • The Navy's decision is a strong vote of confidence in Groton's skilled workforce capability and the work they do to build and maintain the submarine fleet.
  • Congressman Courtney has continuously pressed Navy officials about shortfalls in submarine maintenance and the need to utilize available private sector capacity to assist.
  • The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported severe delays in addressing attack submarine maintenance requirements, with idle time increasing and delays getting longer.
  • Shifting more repair work from the public to private shipyards is a recommended solution to mitigate future shortages.
  • The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis found that submarine repair availabilities at private shipyards were 38 percent lower than at public shipyards between 1993 and 2017.

Statistics:

  • $125 million: the value of the contract awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat.
  • 2002: the expected completion date for the contract, through February.
  • 2 per year: the steady clip of U.S. submarine production, which the House has committed to maintaining.
  • 2018: the year in which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis showing that private shipyards charged 38 percent less for submarine repair availabilities than public shipyards between 1993 and 2017.

Sources:

  • Congressman Joe Courtney, press statement,
  • U.S. Navy, announcement,
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO), report,
  • Congressional Budget Office (CBO), analysis

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