# Navy awards $76.6B for nine Virginia-class and five Columbia-class submarines

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/stories/navy-awards-76-6b-for-nine-virginia-class-and-five-columbia-class-9e6fdba9
Date: 29 Jul 2026
About: [General Dynamics Electric Boat](https://technooptimist.io/companies/general-dynamics-electric-boat.md) · [Columbia and Virginia submarine production](https://technooptimist.io/manufacturing/submarine-production.md)
Original source: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/navy-awards-76-6b-in-contracts-for-new-virginia-columbia-class-subs/

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. The multiyear deal gives suppliers demand certainty, but GAO says deliveries keep slipping.

## Key facts

- Navy target: two Virginia boats a year; builders were at about one a year in June 2025 (GAO).
- The first 10 Block V boats have slipped almost three years on average.
- Electric Boat employs 27,000+ and planned to hire about 8,000 in 2026.

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