# General Dynamics Electric Boat

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/general-dynamics-electric-boat
Electric Boat designs and builds US Navy nuclear submarines in Groton, Connecticut and Quonset Point, Rhode Island. It is prime contractor for the Columbia-class missile submarine and builds the Virginia class jointly with HII's Newport News Shipbuilding.

## In brief

- July 2026: $76.6B Navy award for nine Virginia and five Columbia submarines plus $5B of yard upgrades.
- Virginia boats deliver about 1.3 a year (May 2026) against a goal of two a year.
- Lead Columbia boat ~65% complete in Feb 2026; delivery targeted for 2028, from 2027 originally.

## Facts

- Founded: 1899
- Headquarters: US
- Status: subsidiary (General Dynamics)
- Staff: ~27,000
- Website: https://www.gdeb.com
- Frontiers: [Manufacturing](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing.md) (Shipbuilding)

## Programs

- [Columbia and Virginia submarine production](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing/submarine-production.md) (Manufacturing): Scaling; next: District of Columbia delivered (2028, slipped 12 mo). Virginia at about 1.3 boats a year vs a goal of two; first Columbia due 2028 after slipping.

## Technical approach

- **Modules: Build in pieces, join in Groton**: Hull sections are fabricated and outfitted at Quonset Point and partner yards, then joined and finished in Groton.
- **Shared work: Two yards, one boat**: Newport News does about 22–23% of Columbia work; Electric Boat leads design and does final assembly.
- **Printed parts: Replacing slow castings**: Navy co-funded Lincoln Electric wire-arc printing cells make large metal parts for Electric Boat where castings run late.

## Open problems

- **Suppliers gate the rate** (open): GD's CEO calls the supply chain the gating item; sole-source suppliers of big components hold up boats.
- **Too few experienced workers** (active research): GAO blames delays partly on a shortage of experienced workers; Electric Boat planned about 8,000 hires in 2026.

## Upcoming

- **2028**: District of Columbia (first Columbia-class) delivery (Columbia and Virginia submarine production)
- **2032**: Wisconsin (second Columbia-class) delivery (Columbia and Virginia submarine production)

## Latest updates

- **29 Jul 2026**: Navy awards $76.6B for nine Virginia-class and five Columbia-class submarines. Electric Boat and Newport News received $42.1B for nine Block VI Virginia boats (plus material for another) and $29.5B for five Build II Columbia boats; with $5B awarded earlier for yard upgrades the total is $76.6B. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/navy-awards-76-6b-for-nine-virginia-class-and-five-columbia-class-9e6fdba9.md) · [original source](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/navy-awards-76-6b-in-contracts-for-new-virginia-columbia-class-subs/))
- **20 Apr 2026**: Pentagon's submarine chief says delivering the first Columbia in 2028 will be a heavy lift. Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, the Pentagon's first portfolio manager for submarines, said the 2028 delivery target for District of Columbia will be hard to meet. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/pentagon-s-submarine-chief-says-delivering-the-first-columbia-in-2028-1e8fda56.md) · [original source](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/delivering-first-columbia-class-sub-in-2028-will-prove-wicked-heavy-lift-sub-czar/))
- **28 Jan 2026**: Electric Boat reports 13% more submarine tonnage as supply chain stays the gating item. On General Dynamics' earnings call, Electric Boat reported a 13% productivity gain measured as submarine tonnage produced. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/electric-boat-reports-13-more-submarine-tonnage-as-supply-chain-stays-ae8e9ba1.md) · [original source](https://www.defenseone.com/business/2026/02/hii-ceo-touts-productivity-gains-says-new-contracts-are-needed-sustain-progress/411243))
- **Nov 2025**: Navy adds $2.3B to Electric Boat's Columbia contract as the lead boat slips to 2029. The Navy awarded a $2.3B modification to Electric Boat's Columbia-class contract to speed buying and building five boats. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/navy-adds-2-3b-to-electric-boat-s-columbia-contract-as-the-lead-boat-b1879dec.md) · [original source](https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-11-21/columbia-submarine-contract-billions-delay-19841227.html))

## Partners, customers and investors

- US Navy (customer): $76.6B July 2026 award for Virginia Block VI and Columbia Build II.
- Newport News Shipbuilding (HII) (partner): Co-builds Virginia-class boats and does about 22–23% of Columbia work.
- Lincoln Electric (supplier): Four Navy co-funded wire-arc printing cells make submarine parts for Electric Boat.

## People

- Mark Rayha, President, Electric Boat

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