The US Navy commissioned its newest Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine into service in a ceremony at the navy's Submarine Force Headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 5.
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.
Iowa is the sixth of ten 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, Iowa is 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.
Iowa measures 377 feet (115 metres) long by 34 feet (10 metres) wide. The submarine is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.