US Navy attack submarine Arkansas hits the water

The future US Navy Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Arkansas was launched into the James River at Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) facilities in Virginia on Wednesday, July 2.

NNS' shipbuilders transferred the future Arkansas from a construction facility to the floating dry dock, where it was launched and moved by tugs to a submarine pier at the shipyard for final outfitting, testing and crew certification.

The future Arkansas is the 27th Virginia-class submarine and will be the 13th delivered by NNS. HII said the advanced capabilities of Virginia-class submarines increase firepower, manoeuvrability and stealth.

Like her sisters, the submarine will be capable of supporting multiple mission areas and can operate at speeds of more than 25 knots for months at a time.

She 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.

The future Arkansas measures 377 feet (114 metres) long and 34 feet (10.3 metres) wide. She will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet (240 metres).

The Virginia-class submarines were conceived as a less expensive alternative to the Seawolf-class boats, which were designed during the Cold War era, and are replacing older Los Angeles-class submarines.

Construction of the Virginia-class boats is being undertaken by NNS as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.