Virginia-class

The USS Virginia, a 7,900-ton nuclear-powered submarine, has returned to Naval Submarine Base New London after a 41,400-mile mission to Europe. The submarine's mission highlights the US Navy's capabilities and presence in the region. The USS Virginia is a Virginia-class submarine, known for its advanced technology and stealth capabilities.

The US Navy is reclassifying 19 Virginia Payload Module-equipped submarines as SSGNs, expanding long-range undersea strike capacity. This decision separates their expanded strike role from standard Virginia-class fast-attack submarines. The reclassification is a step to sharpen the Navy's competitive edge.

The US Navy has christened its fifth Flight III destroyer, named after Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Richard Charette, a Medal of Honor recipient. The destroyer was christened at a Maine shipyard and will join the fleet after completion. The Navy is also upgrading 19 nuclear-powered submarines into guided missile warships.

Australian industry reaches AUKUS milestone with Australian-produced submarine-grade steel to be used in US Navy Virginia-class submarines. Bisalloy Steels received a $2 million purchase order from General Dynamics Electric Boat for HY80 steel plate. This marks the first time Australian steel will be used in Virginia-class submarine construction.

The US Navy awarded a $76.6 billion contract to General Dynamics for 9 Virginia-class and 5 Columbia-class submarines. The contract includes funds for workforce improvements and material for a tenth Virginia-class boat.

The Pentagon has approved the next contract for the Virginia-class submarine program, despite production bottlenecks

Australia has entered the US Virginia-class submarine supply chain with its first steel order for General Dynamics Electric Boat. Australian-made submarine-grade steel will be used in US Navy Virginia-class submarines for the first time. This marks a new step in AUKUS industrial integration.

Boeing will reconfigure four P-8A aircraft for a foreign military sales customer. The work includes non-recurring engineering to tailor the aircraft to the customer's operational requirements.

The Australian government has selected Leidos Gibbs and Cox to design a floating dry dock supporting AUKUS infrastructure for its future nuclear-powered submarine fleet. The dry dock is a critical component of the AUKUS program, which aims to provide Australia with conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The selection marks an important step in the development of Australia's submarine capabilities.

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after deployment. The crew performed various submarine operations to deter aggression and support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The US Navy's Virginia-class submarine may be equipped with a next-gen sonar array, enhancing its detection capabilities. The Large Vertical Array (LVA) is a hull-mounted acoustic sensor designed to provide sharper and longer-range detection of other vessels. This upgrade is part of the submarine's scheduled maintenance period.

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Illinois successfully undocked at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, completing a milestone in its maintenance period. This event marks a step towards the submarine's return to operational fleet. The undocking occurred on June 24, 2026, at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

The article compares the Virginia-class and Seawolf-class submarines, two generations of US undersea warfare vessels. The Seawolf-class is considered one of the most capable nuclear-powered attack submarines ever built. The comparison highlights the differences between these two submarine classes.