Editing Virginia-class submarine (section)

== Blocks ==
=== Block I ===
[[File:USS Texas (SSN-775) christening ceremony.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Texas|SSN-775|6}} the second Block I boat at her christening ceremony.]]
Block I includes 4 boats and modular construction techniques were incorporated during construction.<ref>{{cite web |last=Patani |first=Arif |url=http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2012/09/24/next-generation-ohio-class/ |title=Next Generation Ohio-Class |website=Navy Live |publisher=US Navy |date=24 September 2012 |access-date=21 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428124226/http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2012/09/24/next-generation-ohio-class/ |archive-date=28 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Earlier submarines (e.g., ''Los Angeles''-class SSNs) were built by assembling the pressure hull and then installing the equipment via cavities in the pressure hull. This required extensive construction activities within the narrow confines of the pressure hull which was time-consuming and dangerous. Modular construction was implemented in an effort to overcome these problems and make the construction process more efficient. Modular construction techniques incorporated during construction include constructing large segments of equipment outside the hull. These segments (dubbed rafts) are then inserted into a hull section (a large segment of the pressure hull). The integrated raft and hull section form a module which, when joined with other modules, forms a ''Virginia''-class submarine.<ref name=Holmander>{{cite news |first1=John D. |last1=Holmander |first2=Thomas |last2=Plante |title=The Four-Module Build Plan: The Second Decade of Virginia-class Construction Gets Better |journal=Undersea Warfare |url=http://www.public.navy.mil/subfor/underseawarfaremagazine/Issues/Archives/issue_43/build_plan.html |publisher=US Navy |date=Winter 2011 |issue=43 |access-date=4 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120328/http://www.public.navy.mil/subfor/underseawarfaremagazine/Issues/Archives/issue_43/build_plan.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Block I boats were built in 10 modules with each submarine requiring roughly 7 years (84 months) to build.<ref>{{cite conference |last1=Johnson |first1=David C. |first2=George M. |last2=Drakeley |first3=George M. |last3=Smith |title=Engineering the Solution: Virginia-Class Submarine Cost Reduction |conference=Engineering the Total Ship (ETS) 2008 |url=https://www.navalengineers.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/2008%20Proceedings%20Documents/ETS%202008/VA%20Class%20ASNE%20Paper%20FINAL.pdf |location=Falls Church, Virginia |publisher=American Society of Naval Engineers |date=23 September 2008 |access-date=21 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203084604/https://www.navalengineers.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/2008%20Proceedings%20Documents/ETS%202008/VA%20Class%20ASNE%20Paper%20FINAL.pdf |archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref>
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=== Block II ===
[[File:US Navy 080621-N-8467N-001 Pre-commissioning Unit New Hampshire (SSN 778) sits moored to the pier at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard moments before her christening ceremony commenced.jpg|thumb|{{USS|New Hampshire|SSN-778|6}}, the first of the Block II boats]]
Block II comprised 6 boats; they were built in four sections rather than ten, saving about $300&nbsp;million per boat. Block II boats (except the ''New Hampshire'') were also built under a multi-year procurement agreement as opposed to a block-buy contract in Block I, enabling savings in the range of $400&nbsp;million ($80&nbsp;million per boat).<ref name=RL32418 /><ref name=Butler /> As a result of improvements in the construction process, ''New Hampshire'' (SSN-778) was US$500&nbsp;million cheaper, required 3.7&nbsp;million fewer labor hours to build (25% less), thus shortening the construction period by 15 months (20% less) compared to ''Virginia''.<ref name=Holmander />
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=== Block III ===
[[File:USS North Dakota (SSN-784) at sea in August 2014.JPG|thumb|{{USS|North Dakota|SSN-784|6}}, the first of the VPT-equipped Block III ''Virginia''-class submarines.]]
Construction of Block III, {{USS|North Dakota|SSN-784|1}} through [[SSN-791]] (8 boats), began in 2009. Block III subs feature a revised bow with a Large Aperture Bow (LAB) sonar array, as well as technology from ''Ohio''-class [[SSGN]]s (2 VLS tubes each containing 6 missiles).<ref name="RevisedBow">{{cite news |date=21 December 2008 |title=Virginia Block III: The Revised Bow |work=Defense Industry Daily |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/virginia-block-iii-the-revised-bow-04159/ |access-date=20 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621073152/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/virginia-block-iii-the-revised-bow-04159/ |archive-date=21 June 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The horseshoe-shaped LAB sonar array replaces the spherical main sonar array which has been used on all U.S. Navy SSNs since 1960.<ref name=Butler/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/history/subhistory3.html |title=Submarine Technology Through the Years |website=Chief of Naval Operations, Submarine Warfare Division, Submarine History |publisher=US Navy |date=19 July 1997 |access-date=23 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212063112/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/history/subhistory3.html |archive-date=12 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Lambert |url=http://www.usstullibee.com/tullibeehistory.html |title=Official USS Tullibee (SSN 597) Web Site - USS Tullibee History |access-date=23 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121715/http://www.usstullibee.com/tullibeehistory.html |archive-date=17 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The LAB sonar array is water-backed—as opposed to earlier sonar arrays which were air-backed—and consists of a passive array and a medium-frequency active array.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08784.htm |title=North Dakota (SSN-784) |website=NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive |access-date=22 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122541/http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08784.htm |archive-date=17 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Compared to earlier ''Virginia''-class submarines about 40% of the bow has been redesigned.{{clarify|date=January 2015}}<ref>{{cite news |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |url=http://news.usni.org/2014/04/17/navy-delays-commissioning-latest-nuclear-attack-submarine |title=Navy Delays Commissioning of Latest Nuclear Attack Submarine |work=USNI News |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429121624/http://news.usni.org/2014/04/17/navy-delays-commissioning-latest-nuclear-attack-submarine |archive-date=29 April 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

''South Dakota'' (SSN-790) will be equipped with a new propulsor,<ref name="seapowermagazine.org">{{cite web
|url=http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20160812-sdak.html 
|title=Posted:New Acoustic Quieting to be Tested on Submarine South Dakota
|publisher=seapowermagazine.org
|date=12 August 2016
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022223715/http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20160812-sdak.html
|archive-date=22 October 2016
|access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref> possibly the Hybrid Multi-Material Rotor (HMMR),<ref name="darpa.mil">{{cite web
|url=http://www.darpa.mil/attachments/TTOProposersDay2016PresentationFINAL.PDF |title=Welcome to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office (TTO) Proposers Day 
|publisher=darpa.mil
|date=21 April 2016
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023050834/http://www.darpa.mil/attachments/TTOProposersDay2016PresentationFINAL.PDF |archive-date=23 October 2016
|access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="summit-group.com">{{cite web
|url=http://www.summit-group.com/Projects/Maritime.html
|title=SEG projects in the Maritime domain
|publisher=summit-group.com
|date=2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331235250/http://summit-group.com/Projects/Maritime.html
|archive-date=31 March 2015
|access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref> developed by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ([[DARPA]]).<ref name="seapowermagazine.org" /> The Hybrid Multi-Material Rotor program is an attempt to improve the design and manufacturing process of submarine propellers with an aim of reducing the cost and weight of the propeller/rotor as well as improving overall acoustic performance.<ref name="seapowermagazine.org" /><ref name="darpa.mil"/><ref name="summit-group.com" />
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=== Block IV ===
[[File:USS Vermont (SSN-792) underway on the Thames River at Groton, Connecticut (USA), on 15 October 2020 (201015-N-AY957-202).JPG|alt=USS Vermont is the first Block IV Virginia class submarine|thumb|{{USS|Vermont|SSN-792|6}} is the first Block IV ''Virginia''-class submarine.]]
Block IV consists of 10 submarines.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Navy Fact Sheet Attack Submarines - SSN |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_print.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4&page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122021103/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_print.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4&page=1 |archive-date=22 November 2008 |access-date=7 September 2016 |publisher=Naval Sea Systems Command}}</ref> The [[2013 United States budget sequestration|2013 budget sequestration]] put this 10-submarine in doubt by budget sequestration that same year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://breakingdefense.com/2013/09/navy-to-hasc-were-about-to-sign-sub-deals-we-cant-pay-for/ |title=Navy To HASC: We're About To Sign Sub Deals We Can't Pay For |first=Sydney |last=Freedburg |date=12 September 2013 |work=Breaking Defense |access-date=12 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113065601/http://breakingdefense.com/2013/09/navy-to-hasc-were-about-to-sign-sub-deals-we-cant-pay-for/ |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The most costly shipbuilding contract in history, worth $17.6&nbsp;billion, was awarded on 28 April 2014 to General Dynamics Electric Boat. The main improvement over the Block III is the reduction of major maintenance periods from four to three, increasing each boat's total lifetime deployments by one.<ref>{{cite news |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |title=U.S. Navy Awards 'Largest Shipbuilding Contract' in Service History |url=http://news.usni.org/2014/04/28/u-s-navy-awards-largest-shipbuilding-contract-service-history |date=28 April 2014 |work=USNI News |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute |access-date=28 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429051159/http://news.usni.org/2014/04/28/u-s-navy-awards-largest-shipbuilding-contract-service-history |archive-date=29 April 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The long-lead-time materials contract for SSN-792 was awarded on 17 April 2012, with SSN-793 and SSN-794 following on 28 December 2012.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4771 |title=Contracts |date=17 April 2012 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522171706/http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4771 |archive-date=22 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4946 |title=Contracts |date=28 December 2012 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921085438/http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4946 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $208.6&nbsp;million contract modification for the second [[fiscal year]] (FY) 14 ''Virginia''-class submarine, SSN-793, and two FY 15 submarines, SSN-794 and SSN-795. With this modification, the overall contract is worth $595&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite press release |title=General Dynamics Awarded $209 Million for Future Virginia-class Submarines |url=http://www.generaldynamics.com/news/press-releases/detail.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1811=18534 |publisher=General Dynamics - Electric Boat |location=Groton, Connecticut |date=1 July 2013 |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808103005/http://generaldynamics.com/news/press-releases/detail.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1811=18534 |archive-date=8 August 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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===Block V===
Block V has 12 boats and may incorporate the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), which would give guided-missile capability when the [[Cruise missile submarine#U.S. Navy|SSGN]]s are retired from service.<ref>{{cite web |title=Virginia Payload Module (VPM) |website=General Dynamics - Electric Boat |url=http://www.gdeb.com/news/advertising/ |access-date=4 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524095723/http://www.gdeb.com/news/advertising/ |archive-date=24 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Virginia Payload Module will be included on Block V submarines starting with the second boat, SSN-803.<ref name="nff1">{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169558/attack-submarines-ssn/|title=Attack Submarines - SSN |date=8 October 2021|access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> The Block V boats with VPM are expected to triple the capacity of shore targets for each boat.<ref name="forbes1" /> Construction on the first two boats of this block was expected to begin in 2019 but was pushed back to 2020, with contracts for long lead time material for [[USS Oklahoma (SSN-802)|SSN-802]] and [[USS Arizona (SSN-803)|SSN-803]] being awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat.<ref name="GenDyn">{{cite web|url=https://www.gd.com/news/press-releases/2017/02/general-dynamics-awarded-126-million-us-navy-virginia-class-block-v-long|title=General Dynamics Awarded $126 Million by US Navy for Virginia-class Block V Long Lead Time Material|publisher=gd.com|date=16 February 2017|access-date=25 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130302/https://www.gd.com/news/press-releases/2017/02/general-dynamics-awarded-126-million-us-navy-virginia-class-block-v-long|archive-date=26 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=GDEBarchives>{{cite web|url=http://www.gdeb.com/news/news_archives/2017archives.html#02-16-17|title=General Dynamics Electric Boat archives: 26 February 2017 Block V press release|publisher=gdeb.com|access-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062513/http://www.gdeb.com/news/news_archives/2017archives.html#02-16-17|archive-date=8 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> HII Newport News Shipbuilding was awarded a long-lead materials contract for two Block V boats in 2017, the first Block Vs for the company.<ref name="HIINN">{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/huntington-ingalls-industries-reports-first-quarter-2017-results|title=Huntington Ingalls Industries reports first quarter 2017 results|date=4 May 2017|access-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108063636/http://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/huntington-ingalls-industries-reports-first-quarter-2017-results|archive-date=8 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 December 2019, the Navy announced an order for nine new ''Virginia''-class submarines—eight Block Vs and one Block IV—for a total contract price of $22&nbsp;billion with an option for a tenth boat.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a30109198/block-v-virginia-submarine/| title = ''Popular Mechanics''| date = 3 December 2019}}</ref> The Block V subs were confirmed to have an increased length, from 377&nbsp;ft (115 m) to 460&nbsp;ft (140 m), and displacement, from 7,800 tons to 10,200 tons. This would make the Block V the second-longest US submarine, behind only the {{sclass|Ohio|submarine}}s (at 560&nbsp;ft; 170 m).<ref name="blockVa">{{cite web|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-navy-orders-new-block-of-attack-submarines|title=U.S. Navy Orders New Block of Attack Submarines|publisher=maritime-executive.com|date=3 December 2019|access-date=18 August 2021}}</ref>

On 22 March 2021, the U.S. Navy added the 10th boat of the Block V series of the ''Virginia''-class attack submarine, issuing a $2.4&nbsp;billion adjustment on the December 2019 contract. This brings the total cost of the contract with prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat to $24.1&nbsp;billion. The net increase for the contract is $1.89&nbsp;billion, according to a General Dynamics release. Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding is the partner yard in the program.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/03/19/the-us-navy-inks-a-deal-for-a-tenth-block-v-virginia-class-submarine/ |title = US Navy inks deal for a tenth Virginia-class submarine |author = David Larter |publisher = Defense News |date = 2021-03-22}}</ref>