HII Begins Construction Work on Lead Columbia-Class Submarine
Huntington Ingalls Industries has started construction work on the U.S. Navy's lead Columbia-class (SSBN 826) ballistic missile submarine through a cut-of-steel ceremony at the firm's Newport News Shipbuilding facility. HII said Thursday it secured a contract from General Dynamics' Electric Boat subsidiary to perform advance construction efforts for the vessels, which will developed using digital blueprints and replace the service's fleet of Ohio-class submarines.