GD Delivers Submarine Missouri To US Navy in Record Time

(Groton, Conn., July 29, 2010) -- General Dynamics Electric Boat today delivered the nuclear-powered attack submarine Missouri (SSN-780) to the U.S. Navy in a record 65 months and eight percent under target cost. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD).

The 65-month delivery schedule beat the previous best for a Virginia-class submarine by five months. In addition, Missouri required 600,000 fewer labor hours to finish than the last submarine delivered at Electric Boat, USS New Hampshire (SSN-778).

At its float off last November, Missouri was 90 percent complete, another benchmark for the Virginia Class. Missouri will join the fleet in a commissioning ceremony Saturday at the Groton submarine base.

Crediting the Navy, the shipbuilders and the supplier base for achieving the early delivery date, Electric Boat President John Casey said, "Missouri is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the Navy/industry team, and a clear reflection of the nation's commitment to a strong defense."

A continuous series of production and process improvements has enabled Electric Boat to deliver Missouri nine months ahead of schedule and 21 months ahead of the lead ship of the class, Casey said. "This achievement demonstrates the dedication of the men and women of Electric Boat, and will help ensure our success in the future," he said. "I deeply appreciate the efforts of everyone involved."

Missouri is the seventh ship of the Virginia Class, the Navy's first major combatant ships designed for post-Cold War missions. Virginia-class submarines embody the war-fighting and operational capabilities required to dominate the littorals while maintaining undersea dominance in the open ocean.

"Like the previous ships of the class, Missouri has been designed to incorporate emergent technologies that will provide new capabilities to meet new threats," Casey said. "This adaptability enables the Virginia Class to make unique and significant contributions to national security for decades to come," he said.

Source : General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) - click here for more information