At the christening ceremony of the #USNavy USS Idaho, a Virginia-class #submarine, General Dynamics Electric Boat celebrated the contributions of its skilled workforce and supplier community. Kevin Graney, the President of Electric Boat, emphasized the company's purpose of delivering the advantage that protects sailors, families, and freedom. The relationship between the ship's sponsor, Teresa Stackley, and the crew was highlighted as a special bond that lasts a lifetime.
The submarine, which began construction in 2017, will be the 26th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth U.S. Navy ship to be christened with the name Idaho. The last ship named Idaho was battleship BB 42, commissioned in 1919.
The Virginia-class, also known as the VA-class or 774-class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the U.S. Navy. The submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions conceived as a less expensive alternative to the Seawolf-class attack submarines, designed during the Cold War era, and are replacing older 688 Los Angeles-class submarines.
The Idaho may have fewer sister boats than planned in the future, as the Virginia-class attack submarines face budget cuts in the Fiscal Year 2025, threatening to reduce their procurement rate. With 23 of a planned 66 submarines already in service, these cuts could significantly impact the U.S. Navy's undersea dominance.
The reduction to one submarine from the planned two per year has alarmed House Armed Services Committee members, highlighting risks to the defense supply chain and geopolitical standing. The shift suggests a strategic focus on maintaining technological superiority and fleet effectiveness in the immediate future, even as concerns about the fleet's size and capability in a potential conflict persist.
Executive Vice President, Shield AI, International Business and Strategy
3mo“Submarines matter” is a gross understatement! They are the determinant that has directly shaped the world order for the past seven decades by ensuring peace, stability, and security through deterrence. This long-standing and most successful policy would not have been possible without all the amazing people who’ve been willing to carry this burden for so long. The men and women who comprise our submarine force, epitomize the quiet professionals, and we can never fully understand or appreciate the sacrifices they’ve made to ensure we live in peace.