Monica Jackson
BAE Systems has received a contract to produce eight payload tubes designed to help increase firepower on two of the U.S. Navy’s Block V Virginia-class attack submarines.
The company said Tuesday it will supply Virginia Payload Module tubes for integration into the SSN 804 and SSN 805 underwater vessels under the contract from General Dynamics‘ Electric Boat subsidiary.
Each VPM tube is designed to store and launch up to seven Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Joe Senftle, vice president and general manager of weapon systems at BAE, said the module is a key component of the Navy’s undersea operations.
The company will also develop tools and processes to support production of the Block V submarines’ payload tubes.
Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2020.
