Amid the ambitious modernization of the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet, the service is moving forward with the incorporation of the final Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine belonging to Block IV: the future USS Utah (SSN-801). On October 25, General Dynamics Electric Boat held the vessel’s christening ceremony at its shipyard in Groton, Connecticut — an event marking another milestone in the development of this prolific series of attack submarines. With this step, the Navy prepares to complete the final phase of the Block IV program before transitioning to the construction of the more advanced Block V submarines.
The christening of the Utah was attended by shipyard workers, Navy personnel, government officials, and the vessel’s sponsors, Sharon Lee and Mary Kaye Huntsman, who performed the traditional bottle-breaking over the submarine’s hull. This act symbolizes the formal beginning of the testing and outfitting phase prior to commissioning, which is scheduled for 2026, when the Utah will officially join the U.S. Navy’s attack submarine fleet.
The USS Utah (SSN-801) is the 28th Virginia-class submarine and the last of the Block IV group, bringing to a close a construction phase characterized by design improvements aimed at reducing maintenance costs and extending operational deployment cycles. Its keel was laid on September 1, 2021, with the participation of its sponsor Kate Mabus, daughter of former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, in a ceremony symbolizing the formal start of construction.
The Utah follows the USS Arkansas (SSN-800), christened in December 2024, and forms part of a production line that has recently reached other key milestones, such as the launch of the USS Massachusetts (SSN-798), the float-out of the USS Idaho (SSN-799), and the keel authentication of the USS Oklahoma (SSN-802). These vessels — along with the USS New Jersey (SSN-796), already in service — highlight the central role of General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding as the cornerstones of U.S. nuclear-powered shipbuilding.
Each Virginia-class Block IV submarine is designed for a minimum operational life of 33 years, with 15 planned deployments throughout its service span. The modifications introduced in this block — particularly in propulsion, missile control, and maintenance systems — are intended to optimize operational availability and reduce time spent in dry dock. This design philosophy has allowed the Navy to sustain a higher readiness rate compared to the veteran Los Angeles-class submarines, which the Virginia-class is progressively replacing.
With the imminent commissioning of the USS Utah, the U.S. Navy will close out the Block IV production phase and move forward with the construction of the Block V submarines, which will feature the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) — an additional section that will significantly expand their Tomahawk cruise missile launch capacity. This technological leap will not only reinforce the United States’ undersea dominance for decades to come but will also strengthen the Virginia class’s strategic role as a key element of global deterrence and naval power projection in the 21st century.
Images for illustrative purposes only.
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