Virginia-class submarine New Jersey delivered to US Navy

Virginia-class submarine New Jersey was delivered to the US Navy. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) unit confirmed on 25 April it had delivered Virginia-class fast-attack submarine New Jersey (SSN 796) to the US Navy (USN) in a release, noting the SSN is scheduled to be commissioned later in 2024.

The submarine delivery comes at a time when the USN shipbuilding is coming under scrutiny – with the Virginia-class programmes being one of the efforts coming under intense focus – for running far behind schedule.

Not only is the Virginia shipbuilding programme off schedule, but lawmakers are questioning the recent USN fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget request for only a single submarine, when two were expected.

However, USN officials noted they are making the best decisions possible because of workforce and supply-chain issues that continue to plague the efforts to build submarines and other naval vessels.

New Jersey is the 11th Virginia-class submarine delivered by NNS and the 23rd built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.

The vessel is a Block IV Virginia-class SSN, and these submarines are of particular concern, according to USN officials.

Block IV Virginia-class SSNs are running about 36 months behind schedule, while Block V Virginias are running about 24 months behind schedule, according to a 45-day shipbuilding review of these programmes and USN officials who spoke about the review's findings on 2 April during a roundtable media discussion.

For more information about the 45-day review, please seeUS Navy seeks to address major programme delays caused by shipbuilding's new normal of worker and supply shortages.