Investment in South Carolina Manufacturing Facility
Leonardo DRS has revealed plans to enhance its new naval propulsion manufacturing facility in Goose Creek, South Carolina, supported by a $45 million investment from HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding. This initiative aims to bolster the capabilities of the ongoing 140,000 square-foot facility by financing capital equipment and infrastructural upgrades. According to company statements, this investment will facilitate a 40,000 square-foot expansion essential for supporting current and future U.S. Navy nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers.
Collaboration and Strategic Importance
Located near W International—recently acquired by HII for its submarine manufacturing expertise—the Goose Creek facility underscores significant collaboration between Leonardo DRS, the U.S. Navy, and shipbuilding customers. Jon Miller, senior vice president and general manager of Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems, noted that the investment highlights a collective commitment to tackle pressing challenges within the nation’s submarine industrial base, ensuring the timely and budget-conscious delivery of critical capabilities for the military.
The new facility is expected to commence operations in 2026, currently focusing on the production of components for the Columbia-class electric propulsion system, such as the main propulsion motor, drives, and controller.
General Atomics Contract Award
In a related development, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced a contract award from General Dynamics Electric Boat, the Navy’s other primary submarine contractor. This contract entails the fabrication and delivery of three shipsets of Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs) for Block VI submarines. Each shipset will consist of two payload tubes, with scheduled deliveries by the end of 2030.
Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, emphasized the significance of this contract, which follows a previous contract for a single VPT shipset that established GA-EMS as a reliable supplier capable of producing complex, safety-critical components for Navy submarines. The company is enthusiastic about collaborating with Electric Boat, leveraging its advanced fabrication, precision machining, program management, and engineering expertise to meet the ambitious Virginia-class build schedule.
No financial details were disclosed regarding the contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat.
