Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) Nuclear Operations unit has been awarded two US naval reactors programme contracts valued at nearly $36m.
Under the first $32m contract, B&W will carry out assembly of nuclear propulsion components for the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines.
Work under the contract will be carried out over a period of four years at B&W’s facility in Lynchburg, Virginia, US.
The second award, amounting to approximately $4m, includes the procurement of long-lead materials that are associated with manufacturing of nuclear components in support of the navy’s Virginia-class submarines.
B&W has been supporting the US Navy submarines and aircraft carriers by providing a range of nuclear components and services, which include manufacture of nuclear reactor components, other nuclear and non-nuclear research and development, as well as component production.
The company has also received contracts totalling more than $510m for delivery of nuclear components in support of the US defence programmes, as well as naval nuclear power systems for submarines and aircraft carriers.
Integrated with AN/WLY-1 acoustic countermeasures system, mast-mounted AN/BLQ-10 electronic support measures (ESM) and Sperry Marine AN/BPS-16(V)4 navigation radar, the Virginia-class submarines feature anechoic coatings, isolated deck structures and a new design of propulsion to enable a low acoustic signature.
Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), the nuclear-powered advanced stealth multi-mission submarines have a beam of 34ft, can cruise at a submerged speed of 25k and carry a crew of 134.
Equipped with 12 vertical missile launch tubes and four 533mm torpedo tubes, the submarines are capable of firing up to 26 Mk48 ADCAP mod 6 heavyweight torpedoes and sub-harpoon anti-ship missiles from the 21in torpedo tubes.
Image: US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine stationed at a dock. Photo: file image.
