BAE Systems wins US Navy contract for more Virginia-class propulsors

BAE Systems has been awarded a USD 92 million (EUR 84 million) US Navy contract to continue building propulsors for the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) programme, the company announced on 3 October 2024.

Under the contract BAE Systems will deliver the propulsor forward assemblies, as well as design engineering support services and support and sustainment hardware.

“During the more than three decades that BAE Systems has manufactured propulsors for the US Navy’s submarine fleet, we have developed significant expertise in the fabrication of complex heavy structures,” Brent Butcher, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We remain committed to building high-quality, reliable submarine structures and systems in support of US Navy shipbuilding requirements, and our expert workforce and facilities are prepared to take on additional complex submarine assemblies to strengthen our strategic submarine industrial base.”

BAE Systems’ submarine structures production facilities are located at its Submarine Center of Excellence in Louisville, Kentucky. The company also provides engineering and business support from its facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To date, BAE Systems has delivered 33 propulsor forward assemblies to the US Navy, which currently has a fleet of 23 Virginia-class SSNs in service.

A propulsor duct and enclosed propeller is used on the Virginia class instead of a traditional external bladed propeller. The propulsor system is quieter while offering increased speed, power and manoeuvrability.

At its Louisville facility BAE Systems is also building a heavy propulsor structure for the US Navy’s future Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine fleet. The Louisville site also builds the Virginia Payload Module launch tubes, which enable Virginia-class SSNs to fire Tomahawk missiles as well as future payloads.