Naval Nuclear Propulsion

By Rich Abott Defense Daily The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine is currently in good shape but the program has little room for error and may require tighter oversight, the Chief of Naval Operations said on Wednesday. “I say [the program is] on track and that’s true, but it is right on track. And so we need […]

The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine is currently in good shape but the program has little room for error and may require tighter oversight, the Chief of Naval Operations said on Wednesday. “I say [the program is] on track and that’s true, but it is right on track. And so we need to find some margin in […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries said Jason Ward is the new vice president of its Newport News Shipbuilding segment’s Columbia-class submarine construction program and that Dave Bolcar, who was previously vice president of all of the segment’s submarine construction, is now vice president of the Virginia-class submarine construction program. Ward was previously director of Columbia-class construction. Separately, U.S. Navy Rear […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries said Jason Ward is the new vice president of its Newport News Shipbuilding segment’s Columbia-class submarine construction program and that Dave Bolcar, who was previously vice president of all of the segment’s submarine construction, is now vice president of the Virginia-class submarine construction program. Ward was previously director of Columbia-class construction. Separately, U.S. Navy Rear […]

Botched welding jobs on 12 missile tubes for the Navy’s next-generation ballistic-missile submarines should not materially affect tube vendor BWX Technologies’ bottom line this year, CEO Rex Geveden said Tuesday. But it is “too early to tell” whether the gaffe will prevent BWXT from winning more subcontracting business from General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), prime contractor […]

Lower taxes, the gift that just keeps giving this year for corporations, combined with a pension benefit, propelled Huntington Ingalls Industries to a hefty increase in earnings despite a dip in operating profit at the segment level. Net income soared 63 percent to $239 million, or $5.40 a share, from $147 million, or $3.21 a […]

Fluor Marine Propulsion, of Arlington, Va., on Thursday won major nuclear-warship support contracts, worth up to a combined total of  roughly $30 billion over 10 years, from the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Navy. Fluor Marine Propulsion will take over Oct. 1 from incumbent Nuclear Naval Laboratory contractor Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corp., the NNSA […]

Sharon Brady is the the new chief operating officer for Huntington Ingalls Industries subsidiary Stoller Newport News Nuclear (SN3), a significant player in the Energy Department complex. The company announced the move, which has been official since June 4, on Tuesday. Brady has worked in a variety of corporate and government contract posts at SN3 predecessor […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries said Tuesday it on June 4 formally made Sharon Brady the new chief operating officer for subsidiary Stoller Newport News Nuclear (SN3), a significant player in the Energy Department complex. Brady has worked in a variety of corporate and government contract posts at SN3 predecessor Stoller since 2001, the company said in […]

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a Texas company are making plans for the shipbreaking of the STURGIS barge. The Army Corps in May issued a $1.9 million contract to International Shipbreaking Ltd., which is expected in September to tow the formerly nuclear reactor-equipped vessel to its facility in Brownsville. “We are currently working […]

Rich Abott Defense Daily The chair of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) seapower panel on Thursday said the FY ’18 shipbuilding authorization of $26.2 billion should be maintained before adding $3 billion when the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) starts production. “I think even the Navy hasn’t been as direct as they need to be […]

Rich Abott Defense Daily Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) last week announced a partnership with General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) wherein the company will invest $852 million in its Groton shipyard and hire thousands more workers over 17 years to prepare to build the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).. The GD EB investment will focus on “significantly expanding” […]

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) last week announced a partnership with General Dynamics [GD] Electric Boat (EB) wherein the company will invest $852 million in its Groton shipyard and hire thousands more workers over 17 years to prepare to build the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). The GD EB investment will focus on “significantly expanding” its Groton facility […]

By Marc Selinger Defense Daily The U.S. Navy, which has said for years that it wants to buy 12 Columbia-class, nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines to replace its aging Ohio-class fleet, is leaving open the possibility that it will end up acquiring more than that, a service official said April 11. “That’s a decision that will be made […]

The U.S. Navy, which has said for years that it wants to buy 12 Columbia-class, nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines to replace its aging Ohio-class fleet, is leaving open the possibility that it will end up acquiring more than that, a service official said April 11. “That’s a decision that will be made and a recommendation made by […]

The Department of Energy in the fourth quarter of 2017 exercised an option worth more than $490 million on BWX Technologies’ (BWXT) naval nuclear propulsion parts production contract, the Lynchburg, Va.-based company announced nearly four months into 2018. “A variety of manufacturing and material procurement activities will be performed under these contracts that will primarily […]

BWX Technologies President and CEO Rex Geveden said Wednesday the company’s  Nuclear Services Group, which includes its business with the U.S. Energy Department’s semiautonomous National Nuclear Security Administration, is experiencing “a resurgence.” Much of that is due new cleanup business at DOE’s shuttered Cold War nuclear-weapon sites, but a large — if not unexpected — […]

Lynchburg, Va.-based BWX Technologies, a major Energy Department contractor, said Tuesday it earned $430 million in revenue during the fourth quarter of 2017, a 6.5 percent increase over the $404 million it took in during the same period in 2017. BWXT said its revenue for the full year was $1.69 billion for 2017, an 8.8 […]

The Department of Energy in the fourth quarter of 2017 exercised an option worth more than $490 million on BWX Technologies’ (BWXT) naval nuclear propulsion parts production contract, the Lynchburg, Va.-based company announced nearly four months into 2018. “A variety of manufacturing and material procurement activities will be performed under these contracts that will primarily […]

Shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries said Wednesday that Michael Smith will become president of subsidiary Stoller Newport News Nuclear (SN3) effective immediately. Smith has been Huntington Ingalls’ executive vice president for strategy and development. In his new post, Smith will report to Michael Lempke, president of Huntington Ingalls’ nuclear and environmental group. As president of SN3, […]

As part of a joint procurement with the U.S. Navy, the Department of Energy last week solicited bids for a potentially 10-year contract to manage the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. Incumbent Bechtel Marine Power Corp. has been on the job since 2009. The current and follow-on contract includes management and operation of DOE’s Bettis Atomic Power […]

As part of a joint procurement with the U.S. Navy, the Department of Energy last week solicited bids for a potentially 10-year contract to manage the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. Incumbent Bechtel Marine Power Corp. has been on the job since 2009. The current and follow-on contract includes management and operation of DOE’s Bettis Atomic Power […]

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to Congress found that several technologies for the Columbia-class submarine program need more development and testing to prevent cost and schedule delays that could delay deployment of the lead submarine beyond a 2031 deadline. Twelve Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) are planned to replace the existing 14 Ohio-class vessels that provide the sea […]

Calvin Biesecker Defense Daily Huntington Ingalls Industries on Wednesday posted strong financial results in its third quarter driven by work on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships for the Navy and the acquisition last year of a technical services company. Huntington Ingalls is the parent company of Stoller Newport News Nuclear: one of the partners on […]

Richard Abbot Defense Daily The Navy has been able to reduce the cost of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine by $80 million per unit and the program remains on schedule, a top Navy acquisition official said last week. Rear Adm. Michael Jabaley, Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Submarines, said Nov. 2 that after the Columbia […]

The Navy has been able to reduce the cost of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine by $80 million per unit and the program remains on schedule, a top Navy acquisition official said last week. Rear Adm. Michael Jabaley, Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Submarines, said Nov. 2 that after the Columbia program reached Milestone B in late 2016 and transitioned […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced two promotions at its Newport News Shipbuilding division. Dave Bolcar was promoted from director of the Columbia-class submarine program to vice president of submarine construction. Bill Smith was promoted from program director for aircraft carrier fleet support to vice president, fleet support programs. Smith will be responsible for submarine and carrier fleet […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced two promotions at its Newport News Shipbuilding division. Dave Bolcar was promoted from director of the Columbia-class submarine program to vice president of submarine construction. Bill Smith was promoted from program director for aircraft carrier fleet support to vice president, fleet support programs. Smith will be responsible for submarine and carrier fleet […]

The Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $419 million modification to a previously unpriced letter contract for new procurement of Trident II (D5) missile production, life extension production, and deployed systems support. The maximum value of the modification, including all options if exercised, could reach $1.1 billion. The work, including options, is expected to be finished […]

Calvin Biesecker Defense Daily The Navy on Thursday awarded the submarine building division of General Dynamics [GD] a $5.1 billion contract to complete design work on the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. The detailed design award, which includes $175.1 million in initial funding, is for the Integrated Product and Process Development and additional work, including “component and […]