The US Navy has awarded
BAE Systems a $92 million contract to continue building propulsors for the Virginia-class submarine programme. This will see BAE Systems deliver the propulsor forward assemblies, as well as ‘design engineering support services and sustainment hardware’.
Brent Butcher, BAE Systems’ vice president and general manager of weapon systems, said: “During the more than three decades that BAE Systems has manufactured propulsors for the US Navy’s submarine fleet, we have developed significant expertise in the fabrication of complex heavy structures.
“We remain committed to building high-quality, reliable submarine structures and systems in support of the US Navy’s shipbuilding requirements, and our workforce and facilities are prepared to take on additional complex submarine assemblies to strengthen our submarine industrial base.”
BAE Systems is a key member of the submarine industrial base. With the advanced manufacturing capabilities of its Louisville facility, the company is also building a heavy propulsor structure for the Columbia-class submarine. The Louisville site also builds the Virginia Payload Module launch tubes.