The US Navy took delivery of its newest Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine in a ceremony at the navy's Submarine Force Headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, on Sunday, December 22.
The future USS Iowa is is the 24th Virginia-class submarine co-produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division through a long-standing teaming agreement. It is also the 13th attack submarine delivered by GDEB.
The boat’s delivery represents the official transfer of the submarine from the shipbuilder to the navy. The submarine and crew will now undertake a series of tests and trials before commissioning into active service and providing additional capability to the fleet.
The future Iowa is the sixth of 10 Virginia-class Block IV configured attack submarines as well as the fifth US naval vessel, and first submarine, named after the state of Iowa.
Like its sisters, the future Iowa will be capable of supporting multiple mission areas and can operate at speeds of more than 25 knots for months at a time.
The submarine is designed to carry out core missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, delivery of special operations forces, strike warfare, irregular warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and mine warfare.