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SSGN 726 Class Conversion - "One Shipyard" in Action

NAVSEA News Wire

Story Number: NNS040305-12

Release Date: 3/5/2004

By LCDR Randall Fairman, PAO PSNSY & IMF

BREMERTON, Wash. -- The conversion of Ballistic-Missile Submarines (SSBN) to Nuclear-Powered Guided-Missile Submarines (SSGN) involves many pieces of our nation's 'One Naval Shipyard.' Each piece brings to the table important core capabilities and resources.

In evaluating the unique private-public relationship, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition John J. Young Jr. said, "This agreement shares risk equitably between the government and industry and it provides strong incentives to General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation (GD/EB) to assist the return of these vital submarines to the fleet on an aggressive schedule. The conversion teaming arrangement implemented by this contract best uses the experience, facilities, and labor of government and industry to provide an unprecedented capability to the nation."

Under this contract, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) will perform work in the areas in which they have demonstrated excellence. PSNS & IMF will perform the required routine maintenance, nuclear refueling, removal of legacy systems and make preparations for installation of new systems. By leveraging the long history of experience in these areas, the transformation of SSBN 726 to SSGN 726 will be completed more quickly and with greater cost efficiency than could have been completed by any one organization.

Electric Boat Corporation has a long successful history of submarine new construction. In particular, it has built all 18 Ohio class submarines at its facility in Groton, CT. Under this contract, the core capabilities of ED/EB are utilized for the complete design and installation of the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile systems and Special Operating Force support systems.

Complementing these two major contributors are a number of contractors and government agencies, each specialized in areas of systems or weapons expertise for this particular transformation.

Strategic Systems Program is designing and procuring the Tomahawk Attack Weapons System, leveraging their in-depth experience with the Ohio class platform as well as NAVAIR's Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System acquisition program. A NAVSEA-SPAWAR alteration installation team will be installing a completely new radio room. Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Groton division is assisting with contracts management and installation quality controls. And a local private contractor, Todd Shipyard, has been subcontracted by GD/EB to build new superstructure sections.

This combination of public sector infrastructure support coupled with the private sector design expertise and manufacturing specialization bring together the nations finest for a common goal: Efficient and timely transformation of SSBN 726 to SSGN 726 in support of recapitalizing the Fleet. This process offers the opportunity to exercise and develop the one shipyard concept and pave the way for future increased collaboration.

*Note: On March 3, 2004 Electric Boat Corporation, Groton, Conn., was awarded a cost reimbursement modification under a previously awarded contract for the conversion of USS Florida from SSBN 728 to SSGN 728; and conversion installation planning for the conversion of USS Georgia from SSBN 729 to SSGN 729.