The Navy said Aug. 17 it completed shakedown trials on the USS Massachusetts (SSN-798) and the submarine is ready for fleet tasking after the service waived the boat’s post-shakedown availability due to its “superb material condition and combat readiness.”
The Navy said waiving the period was made possible due to the operational quality of the ship during trials “and the urgency to deliver warfighting capability to the fleet.”
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle in a statement said the waiver “reflects the exceptional condition of the ship and our determination to deliver combat-ready capability faster. It also allows our shipbuilding workforce to focus its talent and capacity where we need it most, building the next generation of submarines our nation requires.”
Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, director of Submarine Programs, admitted waiving this period is a calculated risk as they seek to drive efficiency, innovation and shipbuilding speed. HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding first delivered SSN-798 in November 2025 and the sub was commissioned in March. This is the seventh Block VI Virginia-class submarine.
Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily first published a version of this story.