
General Dynamics [GD] awarded BAE Systems a contract to start work associated with the production of Virginia Payload Module (VPM) tubes for the U.S. Navy’s Block V Virginia-class (SSN 774) submarines, BAE said Thursday.This first award for the VPM funds work surrounding certification, special tooling, and other items related to production readiness.The VPM is an additional mid-body section being integrated into Virginia-class submarines, starting with the second boat of Block V. It contains four large-diameter payload tubes, each capable of…