Lead Virginia-class Submarine Prepares For Aug. 16 Christening
GROTON, Conn. – The Navy’s newest and most advanced nuclear attack submarine, Virginia (SSN-774), moved outdoors for the first time Saturday at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard here.
With a length of 377 feet, a beam of 34 feet and a displacement of 7,800 tons, the Virginia is the first U.S. submarine designed to satisfy the requirements of regional and near-land missions in the post-Cold War era. The ship is also designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship – reducing life-cycle costs while increasing underway time.
Unobtrusive, non-provocative and connected with land, air, sea and space-based assets, Virginia-class submarines will carry payloads that include special operations forces; unmanned undersea vehicles; mini-submarines to transport special operations personnel; and 38 weapons (torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles). These capabilities will provide the U.S. Navy with continued dominance in coastal waters or the open ocean.
Designed by Electric Boat, the Virginia class is being built jointly under a teaming arrangement between Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News in Virginia. In 1998, the U.S. Navy awarded a $4.2 billion contract for the construction of the first four ships of the class. Virginia is the first of these.
Virginia will be christened at a shipyard ceremony Saturday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m.
Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 57,000 people worldwide and anticipates 2003 revenues of $15 billion. The company has leading market positions in mission-critical information systems and technologies, land and amphibious combat systems, shipbuilding and marine systems, and business aviation.
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Any "forward-looking statements" contained in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
General Dynamics Corporation (ticker: GD, exchange: NYSE)
News Release - Tuesday, August 5, 2003
Press Contact: (860) 433-8556
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