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Despite Delays, New US Navy Sub Headed for On-Time Delivery
North Dakota is first Block 3 Virginia-class boat
Aug. 11, 2014 - 03]DEFENSE NEWS[/b]
WASHINGTON — The building program of the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines has an outstanding reputation, both for keeping to cost and for on-time delivery. There’s even a modest competition between the two shipyards that build the subs to see who can shave off more time of the contractual delivery date.
Bets are off, however, for the North Dakota, the 11th and newest unit of the class. The submarine is the first of the Block III version, with the most significant design changes to date — that led to delays that were acknowledged in the spring. The Navy hoped to continue the march of early deliveries and begin the sub’s first round of sea trials in mid-April, but it was apparent more time was needed to resolve a number of problems.
The North Dakota finally pushed off Aug. 3 from the General Dynamics Electric Boat yard in Groton, Connecticut, and successfully ran two days of Alpha trials. After one night in port, the boat left again on Aug. 6 to carry out Bravo trials. With no major issues encountered so far, the program expects to complete Navy acceptance trials in the latter half of August, all in time to make the contract delivery date of Aug. 31.
Full story at]http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140811/DEFREG02/308110014/Despite-Delays-New-US-Navy-Sub-Headed-Time-Delivery[/url]
North Dakota is first Block 3 Virginia-class boat
Aug. 11, 2014 - 03]DEFENSE NEWS[/b]
WASHINGTON — The building program of the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines has an outstanding reputation, both for keeping to cost and for on-time delivery. There’s even a modest competition between the two shipyards that build the subs to see who can shave off more time of the contractual delivery date.
Bets are off, however, for the North Dakota, the 11th and newest unit of the class. The submarine is the first of the Block III version, with the most significant design changes to date — that led to delays that were acknowledged in the spring. The Navy hoped to continue the march of early deliveries and begin the sub’s first round of sea trials in mid-April, but it was apparent more time was needed to resolve a number of problems.
The North Dakota finally pushed off Aug. 3 from the General Dynamics Electric Boat yard in Groton, Connecticut, and successfully ran two days of Alpha trials. After one night in port, the boat left again on Aug. 6 to carry out Bravo trials. With no major issues encountered so far, the program expects to complete Navy acceptance trials in the latter half of August, all in time to make the contract delivery date of Aug. 31.
Full story at]http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140811/DEFREG02/308110014/Despite-Delays-New-US-Navy-Sub-Headed-Time-Delivery[/url]
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