WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Navy took delivery of the Pre-Commissioning Unit Mississippi (SSN 782) May 2 from General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), nearly one year early to the submarine’s contract delivery date. Taking just over 62 months to build, Mississippi set the record for the Virginia-class submarine program’s fastest delivery.
“It should not be missed that with this one year early, under cost, delivery came the most complete, combat-ready Virginia-class submarine yet delivered. Mississippi received the highest marks to date from the Navy's independent assessor – the Board of Inspection and Survey. This program continues to set the standard for DoD acquisition,” said Rear Adm. David Johnson, program executive officer for submarines. “As the demand signal for these multi-mission platforms increases, we are working to intelligently drive down schedule and put the world’s best submarines into the hands of the operators to execute missions of national importance.”
Mississippi’s delivery is almost three months faster than USS Missouri’s (SSN 780) – the last submarine delivered by GDEB. The submarine began construction in February 2007 and, like all Virginia Class submarines, is built under a unique teaming agreement between GDEB and Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) in Newport News, Va.
Prior to Mississippi’s delivery, the submarine conducted Alpha and Bravo Sea Trials before successfully completing the Board of Inspection and Survey trials on April 27. “Mississippi’s record setting delivery is a testament to the skill and successful partnership of the Navy/shipbuilding team,” said Rear Adm. (sel.) Michael Jabaley, Virginia-class submarines program manager. “Our shipbuilding team continues to deliver outstanding platforms ahead of schedule and ready to contribute to our national security.”
Mississippi will be commissioned on June 2 in a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss. The subsequent major Virginia-class milestone will be the PCU Minnesota (SSN 783) christening this fall.
Virginia-class submarines are designed to dominate the world’s littoral and deep waters, while conducting anti-submarine; anti-surface ship; strike; special operation forces; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, firepower, and sensor suite directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.
— NAVSEA —