NNS completes initial sea trials of Virginia-class SSN Massachusetts
Peter Felstead
The Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division of Huntington Ingalls Industries announced on 7 October 2025 that it has successfully completed initial sea trials for the US Navy Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798).
Over the course of several days at sea, an NNS and US Navy team conducted testing of systems and components, including submerging the submarine for the first time and high-speed manoeuvres while on the surface and submerged. The testing programme will continue at NNS ahead of delivering the boat to the US Navy.
As the 25th submarine of the class, Massachusetts was ordered in April 2014, laid down in December 2020, launched on 23 February 2024 and is expected to be commissioned in the Spring of 2026. Massachusetts is the seventh Block IV Virginia-class SSN and will be the 12th Virginia-class boat delivered by NNS. Block IV boats require only three major maintenance periods compared to four for previous boats, but do not feature the Virginia Payload Module that allows the firing of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which will be introduced from the second Block V boat, Arizona.
“Our entire team at Newport News Shipbuilding understands the importance of delivering capability to our fleet,” NNS President Kari Wilkinson was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Proving capabilities through this first sea trial for Massachusetts is an important step in demonstrating this and we are honoured to support the mission.”
So far, 24 Virginia-class SSNs have been commissioned, with 66 boats ultimately planned.
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