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| A Virginia-class sub. Photo by General Dynamics |
The Navy has issued a contract to General Dynamics
[GD] for the long-lead materials for three Virginia-class submarines (SSN-774) that will be procured in fiscal years 2014 and 2015.
The Navy awarded the $209 million-contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat Friday for the three subs slated to be purchased under a five-year procurement for 10 of the attack subs. The full contract for the multi-year deal is expected to be issued later this year.
The Navy last year had dropped plans to build two submarines in 2014 to accommodate a reduced budget environment, instead moving it to 2018. But Congress reinserted a second sub into fiscal 2014, while keeping in place plans to build a second one in 2018 as well, lifting the total multi-year plan to 10 vessels.