Courtney Statement on Status of Block V Submarine Contract

Washington, DC – House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Chairman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement today on the status of the Block V multiyear contract for the Virginia Class submarine program:

"Today's news that the Block V contract is reaching the final backstretch with a framework that will be built around a minimum of nine subs and an option for a tenth to maintain the program of record shows real progress in terms of getting a stable workload for this critical program. As recently as last Thursday, myself and Ranking Member Wittman met personally with the Secretary of the Navy to emphatically restate Congress's support for the President's budget request for two subs a year, as well as the Administration's request for an eleventh submarine. The final design of the contract is still weeks away, and we are going to continue to advocate for a program that addresses the Navy's attack submarine shortfall as well as integrates this program into the Columbia class that is beginning in earnest. If the Navy believes that the option for a tenth boat is the best way forward, then using the Congressionally-mandated option in 2023 is the most prudent way to achieve that goal."

The Block V contract will include the incorporation of the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), expanding the size of the submarine, adding increased capability to the submarine and requiring additional manhours in the shipyard to complete.

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