The US Navy has received its latest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the future USS Idaho, from General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB).
The handover took place on 15 December and marks the second Virginia-class submarine delivery to the Navy this year.
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Last month, HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division delivered Massachusetts, another submarine of the same class, to the US Navy.
The delivery marks the submarine’s formal handover from the shipbuilder to the Navy.
Before entering active service, the submarine and its crew will continue with further testing and trials. Commissioning is expected early next year.
The US Navy named the vessel the future USS Idaho at a christening ceremony on 16 March last year at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut.
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By GlobalDataThe submarine was subsequently launched in August the same year.
Virginia-class submarine programme manager captain Mike Hollenbach said: “Idaho represents the hard work and tenacity of shipbuilders, industry partners and navy personnel to deliver the best undersea warfighting platform to the fleet. With each delivery, the navy reinforces our nation’s superiority in the maritime domain.”
USS Idaho is the 26th Virginia-class submarine constructed jointly by GDEB and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding.
It is also the 14th vessel of this class delivered by GDEB and is part of the Block IV group, which consists of ten submarines in total.
When commissioned, USS Idaho will become the fifth US Navy ship named after the state of Idaho.
Previous ships bearing the name include a wooden-hulled storeship launched in 1866 and battleship BB 42, which was commissioned in 1919 and earned seven battle stars during World War II.
The Virginia-class submarines are built with features designed to meet multiple mission requirements for the US Navy, including stealth capabilities, advanced surveillance systems, and special warfare functionality.
The hull measures 377ft in length, has a beam of 34ft, and a submerged displacement of 7,300 tonnes.
The Virginia-class submarine is equipped with 12 vertical missile launch tubes and four 533mm torpedo tubes. Its vertical launching system can fire up to 16 Tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missiles in one salvo.
