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Virginias on the way soon?
US Naval InstituteQuote:
Navy, Shipbuilders Working On Final Details Of Block V Virginia-Class Submarine Deal
By: Ben Werner
August 29, 2019 12:42 PM
GROTON, Conn. – The Navy is close to inking a multi-billion-dollar deal to build the Block V Virginia-class fast-attack submarines, but doing so requires the service, shipyards and suppliers to balance their sometimes-competing program priorities, the service’s top acquisition official said Tuesday
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, on Tuesday toured the General Dynamics Electric Boat manufacturing facility in Groton, Conn. At the same time, behind the scenes, Navy and shipyard officials continued negotiating the contract that will cover at least 10 boats from Fiscal Year 2019 through 2023.
Esper did not discuss the private meeting he had with Phebe Novakovic, chief executive of General Dynamics, and Jeff Geiger, president of the Electric Boat subsidiary. Geurts, speaking to reporters on the plane ride home from the Connecticut yard, described the overall negotiators as working out the final details of a Block V deal.
“Having the SECDEF down here today, I mean, it shows the importance and shows why for the nation we’ve got to be all in: working between the shipbuilders, between the Navy, between suppliers, and quite frankly a lot of workforce development programs to get this enterprise in the shape we need it to, to deliver for the nation,” Geurts said.(...SNIPPED)