Tag Archives: USS Indiana (SSN-789)

Navy

Indiana commissioned

September 30, 2018 Dmitry Shulgin

The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest fast attack submarine, the USS Indiana (SSN-789), during an 10 a.m. (EDT) ceremony Saturday, September 29, at the Navy Port at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Port Canaveral, Florida.

The future USS Indiana (SSN-789) is the 16th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the sixth Virginia-class Block III submarine

The principal speaker was U.S. Representative Jim Banks from Indiana. Mrs. Diane Donald, wife of retired Admiral Kirkland H. Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion from 2004 to 2012, is serving as the ship’s sponsor. She gave the order to «man our ship and bring her to life!» in a time-honored Navy tradition.

«The future USS Indiana shows the increased capabilities that our industrial partners bring to the fleet as we deliver the Navy the nation needs», said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. «This submarine sends a signal to friend and foe alike that we will maintain supremacy under the waves, and extend our lethality and readiness in every domain».

The future USS Indiana (SSN-789) is the 16th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the sixth Virginia-class Block III submarine. This next-generation attack submarine provides the U.S. Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea superiority well into the 21st century.

The submarine, which began construction in 2012, will be the third U.S. Navy ship to be christened with the name Indiana. The first Indiana (BB-1), the lead ship of her class of battleship, served in the North Atlantic and later participated in the blockade of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The second Indiana (BB-58) was a South Dakota-class battleship that earned nine battle stars for her service in the Pacific Theater in World War II. The ship fought in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and participated in the invasions of Tarawa, Kwajalein, and Okinawa, and bombarded Saipan, the Palau Islands, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima. Indiana earned nine battle stars for service in World War II.

Virginia-class submarines are built to operate in the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

General Characteristics

Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat Division and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. – Newport News Shipbuilding
Date Deployed	October 3, 2004
Propulsion	One GE PWR S9G* nuclear reactor, two turbines, one shaft; 40,000 hp/30 MW
Length	377 feet/114.8 m
Beam	33 feet/10.0584 m
Hull Diameter	34 feet/10.3632 m
Displacement	Approximately 7,800 tons/7,925 metric tons submerged
Speed	25+ knots/28+ mph/46.3+ km/h
Diving Depth	800+ feet/244+ m
Crew	132: 15 officers; 117 enlisted
Armament: Tomahawk missiles	Two 87-in/2.2 m Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching 6 Tomahawk cruise missiles
Armament: MK-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes	4 torpedo tubes
Weapons	MK-60 CAPTOR (Encapsulated Torpedo) mines, advanced mobile mines and UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles)

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Indiana (SSN-789)

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block III

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-784 North Dakota	EB	11-2-13	10-25-14	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-785 John Warner	NNS	09-06-14	08-01-15	Norfolk, Virginia
SSN-786 Illinois	EB	10-10-15	10-29-16	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SSN-787 Washington	NNS	03-05-16	10-07-17	Norfolk, Virginia
SSN-788 Colorado	EB	12-03-16	03-17-18	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-789 Indiana	NNS	04-29-17	09-29-18
SSN-790 South Dakota	EB	10-14-17
SSN-791 Delaware	NNS	Under Construction

Navy

16th Virginia submarine

June 26, 2018 Dmitry Shulgin

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division on June 25, 2018 delivered the newest nuclear-powered fast attack submarine to the U.S. Navy.

USS Indiana (SSN-789) was delivered to the U.S. Navy by Newport News Shipbuilding on June 25. Pictured during sea trials in May, the newest Virginia-class submarine will be commissioned later this year (Photo by Matt Hildreth/HII)

The future USS Indiana (SSN-789) is the 16th Virginia-class submarine built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat and the eighth delivered by Newport News.

«We are proud to deliver Indiana to the Navy», said Dave Bolcar, Newport News’ vice president of submarine construction. «For the nearly 4,000 shipbuilders who participated in construction of the boat, there is nothing more important than knowing that this vessel will support the Navy’s missions».

Indiana, which began construction in September 2012, successfully completed sea trials earlier this month. The vessel will be commissioned later this year.

Virginia-class submarines are built for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions to replace the Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines as they are retired. Virginia-class submarines incorporate dozens of new technologies and innovations that increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth and significantly enhance their warfighting capabilities. These submarines are capable of supporting multiple mission areas and can operate at submerged speeds of more than 25 knots/28 mph/46.3 km/h for months at a time.

Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HII’s Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HII’s Technical Solutions division provides a wide range of professional services through its Fleet Support, Integrated Missions Solutions, Nuclear & Environmental, and Oil & Gas groups. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs nearly 39,000 people operating both domestically and internationally.

General Characteristics

Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat Division and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. – Newport News Shipbuilding
Date Deployed	October 3, 2004
Propulsion	One GE PWR S9G* nuclear reactor, two turbines, one shaft; 40,000 hp/30 MW
Length	377 feet/114.8 m
Beam	33 feet/10.0584 m
Hull Diameter	34 feet/10.3632 m
Displacement	Approximately 7,800 tons/7,925 metric tons submerged
Speed	25+ knots/28+ mph/46.3+ km/h
Diving Depth	800+ feet/244+ m
Crew	132: 15 officers; 117 enlisted
Armament: Tomahawk missiles	Two 87-in/2.2 m Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching 6 Tomahawk cruise missiles
Armament: MK-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes	4 torpedo tubes
Weapons	MK-60 CAPTOR (Encapsulated Torpedo) mines, advanced mobile mines and UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles)

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block III

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-784 North Dakota	EB	11-2-13	10-25-14	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-785 John Warner	NNS	09-06-14	08-01-15	Norfolk, Virginia
SSN-786 Illinois	EB	10-10-15	10-29-16	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SSN-787 Washington	NNS	03-05-16	10-07-17	Norfolk, Virginia
SSN-788 Colorado	EB	12-03-16	03-17-18
SSN-789 Indiana	NNS	04-29-17
SSN-790 South Dakota	EB	Under Construction
SSN-791 Delaware	NNS	Under Construction

Navy

Initial Sea Trials

May 29, 2018 Dmitry Shulgin

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division has successfully completed the initial sea trials on the newest Virginia-class submarine, USS Indiana (SSN-789).

The Virginia-class submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789) transits the Chesapeake Bay during its first set of sea trials, referred to as alpha trials (Photo by Matt Hildreth/HII)

The initial round of sea trials, known as alpha trials, provides an opportunity to test all systems and components. It includes submerging for the first time and high-speed maneuvers while on the surface and submerged.

«Sea trials is a significant milestone and the first major test of submarine’s capabilities at sea», said Dave Bolcar, Newport News’ vice president of submarine construction. «We are pleased with how Indiana performed and look forward to continuing our testing program before we deliver the boat to the U.S. Navy later this year».

Construction of Indiana began in 2012. The boat – the 16th Virginia-class submarine built as part of the teaming partnership with General Dynamics Electric Boat – was christened in April 2017.

The submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789) departs for its first set of sea trials with two HII-built aircraft carriers visible in the distance at Norfolk Naval Station (Photo by John Whalen/HII)

General Characteristics

Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat Division and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. – Newport News Shipbuilding
Date Deployed	October 3, 2004
Propulsion	One GE PWR S9G* nuclear reactor, two turbines, one shaft; 40,000 hp/30 MW
Length	377 feet/114.8 m
Beam	33 feet/10.0584 m
Hull Diameter	34 feet/10.3632 m
Displacement	Approximately 7,800 tons/7,925 metric tons submerged
Speed	25+ knots/28+ mph/46.3+ km/h
Diving Depth	800+ feet/244+ m
Crew	132: 15 officers; 117 enlisted
Armament: Tomahawk missiles	Two 87-in/2.2 m Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching 6 Tomahawk cruise missiles
Armament: MK-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes	4 torpedo tubes
Weapons	MK-60 CAPTOR (Encapsulated Torpedo) mines, advanced mobile mines and UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles)

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block III

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-784 North Dakota	EB	11-2-13	10-25-14	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-785 John Warner	NNS	09-06-14	08-01-15	Norfolk, Virginia
SSN-786 Illinois	EB	10-10-15	10-29-16	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SSN-787 Washington	NNS	03-05-16	10-07-17	Norfolk, Virginia
SSN-788 Colorado	EB	12-03-16	03-17-18
SSN-789 Indiana	NNS	04-29-17
SSN-790 South Dakota	EB	Under Construction
SSN-791 Delaware	NNS	Under Construction

U.S. Navy Virginia class submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789) completes first sea trials

Navy

Indiana launched

June 13, 2017 Dmitry Shulgin

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on Jun 09, 2017 that the Virginia-class submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789) was launched into the James River at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. The boat was moved to the shipyard’s submarine pier for final outfitting, testing and crew certification.

The Virginia-class submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789) has been launched into the James River and moved to Newport News Shipbuilding’s submarine pier for final outfitting, testing and crew certification (Photo by Ashley Major/HII)

«Launch is a true testament to our shipbuilders’ roughly four years of hard work», said Matt Needy, Newport News’ vice president of submarines and fleet support. «Over the next several months, we will work closely with the Indiana crew to bring this great ship to life. With the Navy’s recent increase in SSN force structure requirements from 48 to 66 submarines, the shipbuilders here at Newport News and at our teaming partner, Electric Boat, understand the importance of getting these highly valued ships delivered and ready for mission-tasking by our Navy leadership».

USS Indiana (SSN-789) a is the 16th Virginia-class submarine and the eighth that will be delivered to the U.S. Navy by Newport News. Nearly 4,000 shipbuilders have participated in Indiana’s construction since the work began in September 2012.

Indiana was moved out of a construction facility into a floating dry dock using a transfer car system. The floating dry dock was submerged, and the submarine was launched into the James River. The approximately 7,800-ton submarine was moved to the shipyard’s submarine pier, where final outfitting, testing and crew certification will take place.

«Our Indiana sailors are honored to be at the helm as the newest Hoosier boat launches into a new chapter at sea», said Commander Jesse Zimbauer, Indiana’s commanding officer.

Virginia-class submarines, a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines, are built for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions to replace the Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines as they are retired. Virginia-class submarines incorporate dozens of new technologies and innovations that increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth and significantly enhance their warfighting capabilities. These submarines are capable of supporting multiple mission areas and can operate at submerged speeds of more than 25+ knots/28+ mph/46.3+ km/h for months at a time.

General Characteristics

Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat Division and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. – Newport News Shipbuilding
Date Deployed	October 3, 2004
Propulsion	One GE PWR S9G* nuclear reactor, two turbines, one shaft; 40,000 hp/30 MW
Length	377 feet/114.8 m
Beam	33 feet/10.06 m
Hull Diameter	34 feet/10.36 m
Displacement	Approximately 7,835 tons/7,961 metric tons submerged
Speed	25+ knots/28+ mph/46.3+ km/h
Diving Depth	800+ feet/244+ m
Crew	132: 15 officers; 117 enlisted
Armament: Tomahawk missiles	12 individual VLS (Vertical Launch System) tubes or two 87-in/2.2 m Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching 6 Tomahawk cruise missiles
Armament: MK-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes	4 torpedo tubes
Weapons	MK-60 CAPTOR (Encapsulated Torpedo) mines, advanced mobile mines and UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles)

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block I

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-774 Virginia	EB	8-16-03	10-23-04	Portsmouth, New Hampshire
SSN-775 Texas	NNS	7-31-05	9-9-06	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SSN-776 Hawaii	EB	6-19-06	5-5-07	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SSN-777 North Carolina	NNS	4-21-07	5-3-08	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

EB – Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut

NNS – Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia

SSN – Attack Submarine, Nuclear-powered

Block II

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-778 New Hampshire	EB	6-21-08	10-25-08	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-779 New Mexico	NNS	12-13-08	11-21-09	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-780 Missouri	EB	12-5-09	7-31-10	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-781 California	NNS	11-6-10	10-29-11	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-782 Mississippi	EB	12-3-11	6-2-12	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-783 Minnesota	NNS	10-27-12	9-7-13	Norfolk, Virginia

Block III

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-784 North Dakota	EB	11-2-13	10-25-14	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-785 John Warner	NNS	09-06-14	08-01-15	Norfolk, Virginia
SSN-786 Illinois	EB	10-10-15	10-29-16	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-787 Washington	NNS	03-05-16
SSN-788 Colorado	EB	12-03-16
SSN-789 Indiana	NNS	04-29-17
SSN-790 South Dakota	EB	Under Construction
SSN-791 Delaware	NNS	Under Construction

Navy

Christening of Indiana

April 30, 2017 Dmitry Shulgin

On April 29, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division celebrated the christening of Indiana (SSN-789), the 16th Virginia-class submarine.

With one strong swing, Ship's Sponsor Diane Donald christened the Virginia-class submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789), witnessed by (from left) Vice President Mike Pence, Indiana Commander Jesse Zimbauer and Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin, and an audience of nearly 4,000 event guests (Photo by Ashley Major/HII) — With one strong swing, Ship’s Sponsor Diane Donald christened the Virginia-class submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789), witnessed by (from left) Vice President Mike Pence, Indiana Commander Jesse Zimbauer and Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin, and an audience of nearly 4,000 event guests (Photo by Ashley Major/HII)

With a single swing, ship’s sponsor Diane Donald performed the traditional honor of breaking a bottle of American sparkling wine across the submarine’s hull. Donald is the wife of Admiral Kirkland Donald (U.S. Navy, Retired), former director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion.

«It’s the honor of a lifetime to be here today», said Donald. «While the size of the submarine alone is stunning, the complexity inside sets it apart from any other machine ever built. These ships are second to none, made in America by truly remarkable Americans».

Vice President Mike Pence, former governor of Indiana, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. Today is the 100th day since he and President Donald Trump assumed office.

«He sent me here today on this historic occasion as a sign of his deep commitment to the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and to his commitment to make the strongest fighting force in the world even stronger still», Pence said of Trump. Speaking to the shipbuilders, he acknowledged their dedication and skill. «You have the gratitude of the commander in chief for your unwavering commitment to your country, your patriotism, your craftsmanship, and rest assured, President Trump will honor your commitment with historic investments in our national defense».

Other ceremony participants included Representative Bobby Scott, Democratic Party-Virginia; Senator Joe Donnelly, Democratic Party-Indiana; Secretary Sean Stackley, acting secretary of the Navy; Vice Admiral Joseph Tofalo, commander, Submarine Forces; Admiral Tom Fargo (U.S. Navy, Retired), chairman of the board, Huntington Ingalls Industries; Mike Petters, president and CEO, Huntington Ingalls Industries; Matt Mulherin, president, Newport News Shipbuilding; and Jeffrey Geiger, president, General Dynamics Electric Boat.

Stackley spoke of the U.S. Navy’s important presence around the world. «More than a hundred U.S. Navy ships are underway, providing assurance to our allies, maintaining persistent surveillance in regions of interest, conducting special operations undetected, safeguarding the choke points of the world, standing poised to assure access to strike if necessary, and providing humanitarian relief if needed. And all the while, Navy ships are serving as the enduring, reliable deterrent that underpins our nation’s security».

Speaking on behalf of the state of Indiana, Donnelly thanked the shipbuilders for their service to the U.S. Navy and the Indiana crew. «This crew is going to be at the very tip of the spear», he said, «and you have given them the tools, the equipment, the ability to accomplish everything».

About 4,000 Newport News shipbuilders have participated in Indiana’s construction in partnership with General Dynamics Electric Boat. Construction began in September 2012 and is about 90 percent complete. The submarine is on track to deliver to the U.S. Navy this year.

«It’s hard to describe what it’s like to build one of the most complex machines in the world», said Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin. «For our shipbuilders who do this every day – they can even lose perspective of the contributions they are making to our Navy and to our nation. For them, it’s all part of a day’s work – a long, hard, honest day’s work. However, as you look upon this magnificent vessel, I think you’ll agree, it’s no ordinary job. In fact, it’s pretty extraordinary. Our shipbuilders define what ‘Made in America’ means».

Virginia-class submarines, a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines, are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions to replace the Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines as they are retired. Virginia-class submarines incorporate dozens of new technologies and innovations that increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth, and significantly enhance their warfighting capabilities. These submarines are capable of supporting multiple mission packages and can operate at submerged speeds of more than 25+ knots/28+ mph/46.3+ km/h for months at a time.

General Characteristics

Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat Division and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. – Newport News Shipbuilding
Date Deployed	October 3, 2004
Propulsion	One GE PWR S9G* nuclear reactor, two turbines, one shaft; 40,000 hp/30 MW
Length	377 feet/114.8 m
Beam	33 feet/10.06 m
Hull Diameter	34 feet/10.36 m
Displacement	Approximately 7,835 tons/7,961 metric tons submerged
Speed	25+ knots/28+ mph/46.3+ km/h
Diving Depth	800+ feet/244+ m
Crew	132: 15 officers; 117 enlisted
Armament: Tomahawk missiles	12 individual VLS (Vertical Launch System) tubes or two 87-in/2.2 m Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching 6 Tomahawk cruise missiles
Armament: MK-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes	4 torpedo tubes
Weapons	MK-60 CAPTOR (Encapsulated Torpedo) mines, advanced mobile mines and UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles)

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block I

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-774 Virginia	EB	8-16-03	10-23-04	Portsmouth, New Hampshire
SSN-775 Texas	NNS	7-31-05	9-9-06	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SSN-776 Hawaii	EB	6-19-06	5-5-07	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SSN-777 North Carolina	NNS	4-21-07	5-3-08	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

EB – Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut

NNS – Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia

SSN – Attack Submarine, Nuclear-powered

Block II

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-778 New Hampshire	EB	6-21-08	10-25-08	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-779 New Mexico	NNS	12-13-08	11-21-09	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-780 Missouri	EB	12-5-09	7-31-10	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-781 California	NNS	11-6-10	10-29-11	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-782 Mississippi	EB	12-3-11	6-2-12	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-783 Minnesota	NNS	10-27-12	9-7-13	Norfolk, Virginia

Block III

Ship	Yard	Christening	Commissioned	Homeport
SSN-784 North Dakota	EB	11-2-13	10-25-14	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-785 John Warner	NNS	09-06-14	08-01-15	Norfolk, Virginia
SSN-786 Illinois	EB	10-10-15	10-29-16	Groton, Connecticut
SSN-787 Washington	NNS	03-05-16
SSN-788 Colorado	EB	12-03-16
SSN-789 Indiana	NNS	04-29-17
SSN-790 South Dakota	EB	Under Construction
SSN-791 Delaware	NNS	Under Construction

Huntington Ingalls Industries Christens Virginia-Class Submarine Indiana at Newport News Shipbuilding

Navy

Pressure Hull Complete

August 14, 2016 Dmitry Shulgin

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on August 9 that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has reached a major milestone in the construction of the submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789). The 16th Virginia-class submarine has reached «pressure hull complete», signifying that all of its hull sections are joined to form a single, watertight unit.

USS Indiana (SSN-789), the 16th Virginia-class submarine, has reached «pressure hull complete», signifying that all of its hull sections are joined to form a single, watertight unit (Photo by Chris Oxley)

Ship’s Sponsor Diane Donald, wife of Admiral Kirk Donald (U.S. Navy, Ret.), and Ray Shearer, chairman of Indiana’s commissioning committee, visited the shipyard to see the progress being made on the submarine and meet with its crew.

«Witnessing Indiana come to life is one of the most gratifying experiences of my life», Mrs. Donald said. «The countless hours of hard work the shipbuilders have put into constructing and perfecting this boat is apparent, as Indiana has now taken on the shape of a submarine. I also had the pleasure of spending time with the ship’s crew. As the wife of a submariner, it’s been a real honor getting to know a new generation of sailors and witnessing their enthusiasm and dedicated service to our nation. As Indiana moves closer to joining the Navy’s fleet next year, I look forward to continuing to share this journey with her shipbuilders and crew members».

Pressure hull complete is the last major milestone before the submarine’s christening. Construction began in September 2012 under a teaming agreement between Newport News and General Dynamics Electric Boat. The submarine is about 82 percent complete and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in the third quarter of 2017.

«We are on track to meet our budget and schedule commitments to the Navy, and I’m proud of the progress that the Newport News Shipbuilding-General Dynamics Electric Boat team is making», said Jim Hughes, Newport News’ vice president, submarines and fleet support. «Our progress demonstrates the efficiency of the Navy’s two-per-year build plan, which helps ensure America’s undersea superiority».

Commander Jesse J. Zimbauer, Indiana’s commanding officer, said, «Newport News Shipbuilding has completed the pressure hull on time for the Indiana, continuing the momentum of the Navy’s most successful build program and moving us another step closer to taking our submarine to sea».

Virginia-class submarine USS Illinois (SSN-786) (GD Electric Boat Photo)