North Dakota is a little closer to Connecticut than you may think.

On Saturday, Oct. 25, the USS North Dakota attack submarine will officially become the newest addition to the Navy’s submarine force.

The submarine's commissioning ceremony will take place at Naval Submarine Base in New London.

The ship is the 11th Virginia-class attack submarine in the fleet and the first of eight Block III Virginia-class submarines to be built. With the incorporation of new payload tubes, Block III ships help lower production costs and increase missile-firing possibilities, according to the Navy.

Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, will be delivering the keynote speech at the inaugural ceremony. Approximately 2,400 people are expected to attend the private event.

Initial construction on North Dakota began in 2009. Several years later, in 2013, the submarine was christened.

North Dakota is the second ship in the Navy’s fleet to be named after the “Roughrider State.”

