# Columbia and Virginia submarine production by General Dynamics Electric Boat Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing/submarine-production Frontier: [Manufacturing](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing.md) · Field: Shipbuilding · Company: [General Dynamics Electric Boat](https://technooptimist.io/companies/general-dynamics-electric-boat.md) Stage: Scaling (5 of 5: Research → Proto → Pilot → Deploy → Scaling) Updated: last update 2026-07-29, facts checked 2026-10-11 Goal: Build one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines a year, a rate US yards have never reached, so new missile subs replace Ohio-class boats that start retiring in 2027. Status: Virginia at about 1.3 boats a year vs a goal of two; first Columbia due 2028 after slipping. Next milestone: District of Columbia delivered, target 2028 (slipped 12 months; originally 2027) ## Milestones | Status | Milestone | Date | Slip | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Done | Columbia-class construction begins | 1 Oct 2020 | | | Done | District of Columbia (lead boat) keel laid | 4 Jun 2022 | | | Done | Wisconsin (second Columbia) keel laid | Aug 2025 | | | Done | $2.3B Columbia contract modification | Nov 2025 | | | Done | USS Idaho commissioned (Virginia class) | Apr 2026 | | | Done | $76.6B award: 9 Virginia + 5 Columbia boats | 29 Jul 2026 | | | Current | District of Columbia delivered | 2028 | +12 mo (originally 2027) | | Planned | District of Columbia on first deterrent patrol | 2031 | | | Planned | Wisconsin delivered | 2032 | | | Planned | Two Virginia-class boats a year | 2032 | +48 mo (originally 2028) | | Planned | Groton (third Columbia) delivered | 2034 | | ## Upcoming events - **2028**: District of Columbia delivered (slipped 12 mo) - **2028**: District of Columbia (first Columbia-class) delivery - **2031**: District of Columbia on first deterrent patrol - **2032**: Wisconsin delivered - **2032**: Two Virginia-class boats a year (slipped 48 mo) - **2032**: Wisconsin (second Columbia-class) delivery - **2034**: Groton (third Columbia) delivered ## Most important 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)) ## Current obstacles - **Late parts from sole-source suppliers**: Supply chain is the gating item, says GD's CEO; one late component can stall a boat. - **Virginia Block V running late**: The first 10 Block V boats have slipped almost three years on average; GAO says recovery plans are underperforming. - **Hiring and training at scale**: Electric Boat planned about 8,000 hires in 2026; GAO cites too few experienced workers as a cause of delays. ## Physics limits - **Nuclear-grade quality on every weld**: A submarine hull and reactor plant must hold up at depth for decades, so welds and parts are inspected far more than in commercial ships; that inspection load sets a floor on build time. - **Huge one-off parts from few suppliers**: Large castings and forgings come from a handful of foundries with long queues; a single late part can hold a whole boat, which is why the Navy funds 3D-printed replacements. ## How it works ### Modules: Sections first, final assembly in Groton Hull sections are built and fitted out at Quonset Point, Newport News and suppliers, then joined into a boat in Groton. ### Lifetime reactor: No refuelling Columbia's reactor core is designed to last the boat's whole service life, so it skips the mid-life refuelling Ohio boats needed. ### Electric drive: Quieter propulsion An electric motor turns the propeller instead of reduction gears; the reactor still makes steam for turbines that generate power. ### Priority: Columbia comes first Columbia is the Navy's top priority, so when labour or parts run short, Virginia boats wait (a risk CRS has flagged). ## Spec sheet | Spec | Columbia and Virginia submarine production | Provenance | | --- | --- | --- | | Virginia delivery rate | About 1.3 boats a year | reported | | Virginia goal | 2 boats a year | reported | | Columbia displacement | 20,810 long tons submerged | reported | | Columbia length | 560 ft (171 m) | reported | | Missile tubes | 16 Trident II D5 | reported | | Columbia boats planned | 12 | reported | | Lead Columbia boat cost (CRS) | $16.1B | estimated | | Lead boat complete (Feb 2026) | About 65% | reported | | Electric Boat workforce | 27,000+ | reported | | Planned hires in 2026 | About 8,000 | reported | Provenance: reported = stated by the company; estimated = our estimate; sample = a sample figure. ## About 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. - 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. - Founded: 1899 - Headquarters: US - Status: subsidiary (General Dynamics) - Staff: ~27,000 - Website: https://www.gdeb.com - People: Mark Rayha (President, Electric Boat) - Partners, customers, investors: US Navy (customer); Newport News Shipbuilding (HII) (partner); Lincoln Electric (supplier) Company page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/general-dynamics-electric-boat.md ## Related programs Everything in Manufacturing: https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing.md --- The Techno Optimist tracks every frontier of technology, program by program: https://technooptimist.io/ (a Markdown version of any page: add .md to its URL; site map for agents: https://technooptimist.io/llms.txt). 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