| By NAVSEA Public Affairs |
| A keel-laying ceremony for the future USS Virginia (SSN
774) was hosted on Sep. 2 by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division at their
Quonset Point Facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The Virginia
is the lead ship in the Navy’s new attack submarine class. |
| Virginia Senator John Warner (R-VA) , chairman of the Senate
Armed Services Committee, inscribed his initials on the keel of the submarine
and served as the event’s principal speaker. |
| "Virginia will represent the most flexible and technologically
advanced submarine that we or anyone else in the world has ever put to sea,"
said Sen. Warner. "I applaud the superb efforts made by all of the individuals
in both our defense industry and Department of Defense organizations who
have contributed to the genesis and reality of this awesome warship. She
is an example of success that sets the standard for our future development
and procurement programs. Virginia will represent the most flexible
and technologically advanced submarine that we, or anyone else in the world,
has ever put to sea!" |
| SSN 774 is the lead ship of the Virginia class with a
total of 30 ships planned. Last year, Electric Boat along with Newport News
Shipbuilding (of Newport News, Vairginia) began working on a $4.2 billion
contract to build the first four ships of the class. Virginia class
submarines have been designed to affordably maintain the U. S. Navy’s
undersea superiority well into the 21st century. |
| "Today marks an important beginning for tomorrow with
Virginia - a new submarine class with new technologies to meet the
challenges of a new millennium," remarked Adm. Frank L. Bowman, director
of Naval Nuclear Propulsion. "In either the open ocean or coastal environment,
U.S. nuclear submarines will be instrumental in establishing control of the
joint battle space and in determining the successful outcomes of our military
operations." |
| In his remarks, Bowman advanced the case for building more
submarines. |
| "In recent years, our warfighting commanders in chief have
consistently stated that they need a force structure of about 70 nuclear
attack submarines to meet their mission requirements," Bowman said. "Today,
we’re down to 57 attack submarines, and many of our national and military
leaders are feeling the pinch. There’s a widening realization that we
need to have more attack submarines, and the Virginia class is key
to preserving and restoring our submarine force levels - with the right
submarines to operate in the 21st century." |
| This need for more submarines was endorsed by both Senator Charles
S. Robb (D-VA) and Senator Warner during the Virginia keel laying
ceremony. |
| The Navy’s next-generation attack submarine, Virginia
will have improved stealth features, sophisticated surveillance capabilities
and special warfare enhancements which will enable it to meet the Navy’s
multi-mission requirements. Virginia will be able to attack targets
ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term
surveillance of land areas, littoral waters and other sea forces. Other missions
Virginia will conduct include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare,
special forces delivery and support, and mine delivery and minefield mapping.
With enhanced communications connectivity, Virginia will also provide
important battle group and joint task force support, with full integration
into carrier battle group operations. |
| The Virginia class of attack submarines surpass the
performance of any current or projected threat submarine, ensuring undersea
dominance for the United States well into the next century. This is the sixth
ship of the U.S. Navy to carry the name Virginia which started with
the original USS Virginia in 1777. |
