Courtney applauds EB milestone as work officially begins on second Virginia-Class submarine

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today applauded Groton-based Electric Boat (EB) as construction began on a second Virginia-Class submarine. Fiscal Year 2011 marks the first time in 22 years that the Navy has built two submarines in the same fiscal year.

"This milestone is the culmination of years of hard work by many people, especially the men and women of Electric Boat," said Congressman Courtney. "The talented workers at EB have demonstrated repeatedly their unique skills in completing submarines ahead of schedule and under budget. Against the backdrop of tightened spending, Electric Boat is producing superior, essential submarines that will continue to be a critical part of our national defense and intelligence gathering across the globe."

The yet-to-be-named submarine, SSN 787, will be the thirteenth boat in the Virginia-Class program.

In 2007 – his first year in Congress – Rep. Courtney secured $588 million to acquire the long lead materials needed to beginning building two submarines a year in 2011, a year earlier than the Navy's plan at the time.

In 2005, Electric Boat CEO John Casey projected that EB would have to reduce its workforce by nearly half – from 11,000 to 5,000 – if submarine production remained stagnant at one per-year and additional design work was not initiated. Doubled production on the Virginia-Class submarine and new design work on the OHIO-Class replacement have solidified EB's workforce and led directly to the purchase of the former-Pfizer R&D facility, which today houses EB engineers.

###