The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a US$5.1 billion "integrated product and process development" (IPPD) contract to complete the design of the lead Columbia-class submarine, the nation's next-generation submarine.
The IPPD contract includes funding for component and technology development as well as continued development of the "common missile compartment", which will be integrated into both the navy's new SSBN and the Royal Navy's Dreadnought-class strategic missile submarine.
Construction of the lead Columbia-class submarine is scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2020. The navy plans to build a fleet of 12 new SSBNs.
The contract follows a five-year, US$1.85 billion award Electric Boat received in December 2012 to perform research and development work for the navy's new class of ballistic-missile submarines.
