U.S. Navy Receives Its 24th Virginia-class Submarine

In the final days of 2024, General Dynamics handed over the twenty-fourth Virginia-class submarine to the U.S. Navy. The formidable boats that make up this class are heralded as the most capable fast-attack nuclear-powered vessels in service across the globe. For nearly a quarter century, the Virginia-class submarines have served the Navy diligently, excelling in stealth, warfare, and intelligence gathering. The delivery of SSN 797 is a major milestone for both General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding, which have been tasked with producing the Navy’s future Virginia vessels.

The vast majority of the Virginia ships are from the earlier Blocks I-III classes and only three Block IV submarines are in service today. Each Virginia submarine is impressive; however, the latest variant is truly a game changer. With the addition of the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), Block IVs are designed to interact with the seafloor and can store more weapons than earlier variants. As detailed by The Drive, the new VPM which will be fitted to the upcoming Block V Virginia-class ships features a “similar hull plug that stretches 84 feet that would be adapted to the seabed warfare role instead of hauling around cruise, hypersonic, and other missiles.”

While the Block IVs and the rest of the Virginia-class submarines represent a core pillar of the Navy’s maritime security strategy, budgetary constraints and other delays have hindered the timely introduction of newer ships. In fact, experts estimate that the class is 41 months behind, with expectations to catch up by 2028. Considering the threat climate across the globe, the imminent introduction of these formidable submarines is paramount.

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