General Dynamics Electric Boat has won a $2 billion contract modification to continue long-lead work for the Block V Virginia-class attack submarine (SSN-774) program, according to a Monday Pentagon contract announcement.

“The award modifies a contract awarded in 2017 that provides funding for long lead time material for steam and electrical plant components, main propulsion unit and ship service turbine generator efforts and miscellaneous hull, mechanical and electrical system components,” Electric Boat said in a Tuesday statement. “This modification brings the overall contract value to approximately $3.2 billion.”

The award follows a 2018 contract modification of $692.2 million for long-lead materials for the modified Virginia attack boat design and an anticipated block buy for the submarines later this year.

Nine of the ten of the Block Vs feature the Virginia Payload Module that will stretch the hull by 84 feet to accommodate four payload tubes in the center of the submarine. The tubes that are designed to fire Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles. Attack boats with the VPM are planned to field 40 Tomahawks apiece.

The VPM module on the planned attack boats will eventually replace the capability of the four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines that were converted from ballistic missile submarines to field land attack missiles.

The Fiscal Year 2020 budget submission requests about $10 billion for the first three Block V hulls as part of a planned ten-boat buy expected to be awarded in April, according to Navy budget documents released this week.

The following is the March 19, 2019 announcement from General Dynamic Electric Boat.

GROTON, Conn. – The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $2 billion contract modification for long lead time material to support construction of Block V Virginia-class submarines.

The award modifies a contract awarded in 2017 that provides funding for long lead time material for steam and electrical plant components, main propulsion unit and ship service turbine generator efforts and miscellaneous hull, mechanical and electrical system components. This modification brings the overall contract value to approximately $3.2 billion.

“This award allows Electric Boat and the submarine industrial base to continue to make preparations for construction of Block V, which will bring additional payload capacity to the Navy. Our team will continue to produce the world’s most technologically advanced submarines, safely and efficiently,” said Electric Boat President Jeffrey S. Geiger.

Block V submarines will include the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), an added section of the ship containing four large-diameter payload tubes. Extending the hull by 84 feet, the VPM will boost the submarine’s strike capabilities.

Electric Boat employs about 17,000 people in Groton and New London, Connecticut; and Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). More information about General Dynamics is available atwww.generaldynamics.com.