Matthew Nelson
Huntington Ingalls Industries has launched the U.S. Navy‘s 18th Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine into the water at a company facility in Newport News, Va.
HII said Monday it used a transfer car system in order to put USS Delaware into a floating dry platform that was submerged to discharge the submarine into the James River.
Dave Bolcar, vice president of submarine construction at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, said the company aims to complete the construction and sea-based trials of the underwater vessel next year.
Newport News Shipbuilding built the submarine under a teaming agreement with General Dynamics‘ Electric Boat subsidiary.
Jill Biden, a former U.S. second lady, christened Delaware as its sponsor during a ceremony that took place in October.
Virginia-class submarines are intended to replace the military service’s Los Angeles-class submarines and designed to support open-ocean and littoral missions.
