BAE Systems has won a $70 million contract award from General Dynamics Electric Boat for the production of Virginia Payload Module missile tubes for Block VI Virginia-class submarines.
“These missile tubes deliver critical firepower to the Virginia-class submarine fleet, a cornerstone to U.S. national security,” said Charles Lewis, director of Submarine Programs for Platforms & Services at BAE Systems. “Continuing to manufacture VPMs at our Louisville, Kentucky, facility maintains our strong support to the industrial base, while also ensuring Sailors receive the capability they need to protect our country.”
VPM tubes boost the firepower and payload of Virginia-class submarines by enabling the launch of up to seven Tomahawks or future missile variants. These complex structures are built by a highly skilled workforce at BAE Systems’ Louisville facility.
The facility also produces the Virginia-class propulsor and a heavy propulsor structure for the Columbia-class submarine. With proven manufacturing capability and capacity, BAE Systems is ready to take on more submarine structure work to support the U.S. Navy, the company said.