BAE Systems has received an $11.5 million production order to manufacture an additional component for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.
The order is part of a broader $72 million contract awarded to BAE Systems in 2023 for the delivery of critical submarine components. The structure to be produced is described as a “sequence critical heavy structure” essential to the Columbia-class program.
Charles Lewis, director of Submarine Programs for Platforms & Services at BAE Systems, stated:
“The award is a testament to the hard-working, highly-skilled employees in Louisville, who manufacture complex submarine structures and our engineering expertise in Minneapolis. Our personnel and facilities have the deep specialized capability and experience needed to support submarine and maritime industrial construction. We look forward to carrying on our commitment to meeting the production needs of these national security assets that keep our Sailors safe.”
Production will be carried out at BAE Systems’ site in Louisville, Kentucky, which specializes in fabrication, welding, machining, testing, and outfitting for naval systems. Additional work is being performed at the company’s Jacksonville, Florida shipyard, which also produces Columbia-class components and supports the wider U.S. maritime industrial base.
BAE Systems reports having invested over $250 million in submarine construction capabilities over the past several years.