The US Navy commissioned its eighth Virginia-class submarine, USS 'California' (SSN 781) on October 29, during a ceremony held at Naval Station Norfolk.
'USS California' is the eighth submarine in the Virginia class and the fourth of its kind built by NNS. The most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, she can operate in both littoral and deep ocean environments and presents combatant commanders with a broad and unique range of operational capabilities.
Huntington Ingalls Industries and Newport News Shipbuilding delivered the submarine eight months early and under budget. Construction began in February 2006, and the ship was launched on November 6, 2010.