General Dynamics Electric Boat held an official keel-laying ceremony for 15th Virginia Class submarine Colorado, the shipbuilder's press release said. The event was held at Quonset Point facility.
Colorado represents a revolution in submarine design, construction and mission capability. Its contract delivery date to the Navy is August 2017. Virginia-class submarines have been delivered on-budget and ahead-of-schedule.
Ship's general characteristics: Displacement - 7,800 tons, hull length - 377 feet, a diameter - 34 feet. Maximum speed – more than 25 knots, design depth is exceeds 800 feet. Submarine armament include Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes, Tomahawk land-attack missiles and unmanned underwater vehicles. In April 2014, the
Navy awarded the shipyard a $17.6 billion contract to build 10 additional vessels.
Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has primary locations in Groton and New London, Conn., and Quonset Point, R.I. Its current workforce is approximately 12,900 employees.