General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., in Groton has been awarded a contract totaling $15,383,494,792 to build additional Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines for the U.S. Navy and to support other elements of the Pentagon’s Columbia-class and Virginia-class submarine programs.
According to the Navy, 21% of the work will be performed at the General Dynamics Electric Boat facilities in Groton, with other work being done at General Dynamics facilities in Virginia, California,Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and other states. Electric Boat in Groton covers 118-acres and has access to the Thames River, which feeds into the Long Island Sound.
Connecticut U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said of the contract, “This $15.38 billion is a boon for both our national defense and our state’s economy. (The) announcement is huge news for the talented workers at Electric Boat and its supply chain companies who produce the world’s best submarines — ensuring our military has the best tools and technology to succeed. I am thrilled to see their hard work and expert engineering recognized yet again by the Department of Defense, and will keep advocating for strong contracts for Connecticut defense manufacturers.”
Electric Boat was expected to hire about 8,000 new employees this year to work at its facilities in Groton and Rhode Island. On March 14, it held a job fair in Hartford at which it was seeking new employees to work as mechanics, machinists, painters, carpenters, welders, pipefitters, shipfitters, and electricians. It was offering starting salaries ranging from about $21 an hour to just above $41 an hour.
General Dynamics notes that its Electric Boat division was established in 1899. It has been supplying nuclear-powered Virginia-class fast-attack submarines to the Navy for 20 years, and is the prime contractor for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program. It also provides support services for all classes of submarines. Electric Boat’s primary operations are at its shipyard in Groton. It reports having more than 23,000 employees.
