Contracted for Test Facility and First Two Ship-sets

Leonardo DRS has shipped the first main propulsion motor for the US Navy’s lead Columbia-class SSBN to General Dynamics Electric Boat for integration, the company announced on 30 August.

Identified by the USN as its top priority programme, the 12 boats of the Columbia class will replace the current Ohio-class fleet and will be the largest submarines ever built by the US. After extensive prototype test and evaluation, DRS Naval Power Systems is now under contract for the electric propulsion system components (including design, test, qualification, and production) for both a land-based test facility and the first two boats. “Our long history of providing innovative technology to the US Navy and continuing this work for Electric Boat ensures our sailors will be defending this country with the most advanced submarine in the world,” explained Jon Miller, SVP/GM of DRS Naval Power.