General Dynamics Electric Boat was recently awarded 3 U.S. Navy contracts totaling $4.6 billion to design and develop the next-generation strategic deterrent submarine, and to continue construction and purchasing of materials for Virginia-class attack submarines. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.

Under a five-year, $1.85 billion Ohio Replacement Program contract, Electric Boat will perform research and development work for this new class of ballistic-missile submarine, which is scheduled for a 2021 construction start.

Additionally, Electric Boat will continue development of the joint U.S. Navy / Royal Navy Common Missile Compartment for Ohio Replacement submarines and the UK Successor-class ballistic-missile submarine. The potential value of this contract is $1.995 billion.

Electric Boat also received a $2.5 billion award to build two Virginia-class submarines – South Dakota (SSN-790) and Delaware (SSN-791) – the 17th and 18th ships of the class. Construction of Virginia-class submarines is shared between Electric Boat, the prime contractor, and its teammate, Newport News Shipbuilding.

Under the third award, Electric Boat will receive $308 million to purchase long lead-time materials for the as-yet unnamed Virginia-class submarines SSN-792, SSN-793 and SSN-794.

Meanwhile, General Dynamics Canada has been awarded a CA$32 million contract by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) for key communications network technology for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) program.

Under this contract, General Dynamics Canada will provide the software that will control the AGS Communications Ground Control System (CGCS). The CGCS will manage radio and satellite communications between Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the main operating base in Sigonella, Italy.

General Dynamics Canada will also deliver ruggedized computer workstations and the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) intercom systems that will enable communications between operators at the operating base and with mobile command centers. In addition, the company will provide engineering support for the integration of its software and systems at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in the United States, and at the main operating base in Italy.

Led by Northrop Grumman, the NATO AGS Program is a major international procurement initiative to establish an airborne ground surveillance system, which can provide NATO Commanders with a comprehensive picture of activity on the ground.

It includes 5 Northrop Grumman high-altitude, long endurance Global Hawk UAVs, missionized to NATO requirements; Mobile Ground Command and Control Vehicles; as well as associated command and control base stations.

Once deployed, the AGS system will enable NATO and its coalition partners to gather intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to support military and humanitarian operations.

With its main operating base at Sigonella, NATO AGS will be co-located with the U.S. Air Force Global Hawks and the U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton (BAMS) Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aircraft systems, further advancing synergies across the three programs in operational capability, lifecycle logistics and sustainment.

Development and production of the AGS program is expected to take place over the next three years, with initial operation scheduled for November 2016. General Dynamics Canada will continue to provide in-service support for the system beyond 2016.