NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI – Hailing the new submarine production facility as a result of years of strategic federal investments and a sign of positive economic growth for the state – as well as recognition of Rhode Island’s strategic importance as a hub for undersea technology – U.S. Senator Jack Reed celebrated the opening of a new General Dynamics-Electric Boat facility at Quonset Point.  The new “Ohio Replacement Automated Frame and Cylinder Facility,” officially opened at a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 20, is the first of several facilities planned to support the increased submarine construction work planned for Quonset Point.

The new 123,000 square foot, $47 million facility will support construction of the Ohio Replacement Submarine hull cylinders and the installation of large-diameter missile tubes into submarine missile compartment sections.  The facility will feature six large indoor fixtures, four of which will be used to work on the hull of the next generation submarines and two dedicated to forming the missile section of the submarines.

Construction of the next-generation nuclear submarines is slated to begin in fiscal year 2021.  The ceremony at Quonset marked the completion of the first phase of the new open-bay facility, with another approximately 60,000 square feet to be built as part of a second phase of the project. 

Reed called the replacement program for the aging Ohio-class submarines “the Navy’s number one priority.”

“After many years of work, this new facility at Quonset is yet another sign of Electric Boat’s significant and growing presence in Rhode Island, and a recognition of the key role Rhode Island plays in our national defense.  We’ve made strategic investments to ensure Rhode Island is a high-tech hub of undersea technologies now and in the foreseeable future.  We have to keep looking toward the future and I look forward to coming back here when the facility is humming with activity and bringing these new submarines to life,” said Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Reed has led the effort in Congress to preserve and grow the Rhode Island defense industry’s contributions to safeguarding U.S. national security.

“These new submarines are designed to serve as a constant strategic deterrence to our adversaries,” noted Reed.  “I am proud of the role Rhode Island workers play in their design and construction.  This new facility will help ensure we have more high-paying manufacturing and technology jobs here in Rhode Island.”

Current plans call for 12 ships to be built as part of the Ohio-Class replacement program.  Electric Boat has hired approximately 600 additional workers at its Quonset Point shipyard in the past year to reach a present total of just under 3,700 employees.  The company reportedly expects to increase that number to 6,000 to build the new ballistic missile submarines in the coming years.

Designs call for the Ohio Replacement Submarines to be 560-feet long and built for stealth.  The submarines are engineered to serve for as long as 42 years without needing mid-life refueling.

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