BAE Systems says it is producing two Virginia-class propulsor sets annually as the Navy works to expand its submarine-building capacity.BAE Systems

Key Takeaways

  • BAE Systems has received a $137.66 million US Navy contract to continue manufacturing Virginia-class submarine propulsor assemblies, with work extending through September 2032.

  • The company says it is meeting the Navy's target of producing two Virginia-class propulsor sets annually and has delivered major assemblies for every submarine in the class to date.

  • The contract supports the Navy's broader 1+2 submarine manufacturing goal, which calls for building one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines annually.

BAE Systems has received a $138 million US Navy contract to continue manufacturing propulsor assemblies for the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet, supporting the service’s effort to expand submarine production and strengthen its industrial supply chain.

The contract covers the manufacture of propulsor assemblies, engineering services, replacement parts, and associated manufacturing support. Its ordering period extends through September 2032, giving BAE Systems a longer-term role in supplying one of the submarine’s critical propulsion components.

The Navy awarded the contract on September 29, 2026, with an official value of approximately $137.66 million. BAE Systems announced the award on November 12.

The company says it is meeting the Navy’s production target of two Virginia-class propulsor sets annually and has delivered major propulsor assemblies for every submarine in the class built to date.

A critical component for submarine propulsion

A propulsor is the assembly that converts mechanical power from a submarine’s propulsion system into thrust, allowing the vessel to move through water. Unlike a conventional exposed propeller, modernsubmarine propulsorsare designed with acoustic performance and structural requirements in mind.

Reducing underwater noise is particularly important for nuclear-powered attack submarines, which rely on stealth to conduct surveillance, track other vessels, and operate in contested waters.

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TheNavy’s budget documentationdescribes the Virginia-class propulsor as an assembly incorporating nickel-aluminum bronze blades and large steel and Inconel fabrication components. It must generate sufficient thrust to propel the submarine while meeting specified torque, shaft-speed, acoustic, and structural requirements.

This makes manufacturing a demanding engineering task. The component must withstand substantial mechanical loads while maintaining the performance characteristics required for quiet underwater operation.

BAE Systems has supplied major propulsor assemblies throughout the Virginia-class program. Itslatest contractcontinues that work while covering engineering and replacement support in addition to production.

Supporting a faster submarine-building schedule

The award comes as the US Navy seeks to expand its submarine industrial base to support a more demanding construction schedule. Its broader shipbuilding objective, often described as a 1+2 cadence, calls for producing one Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and twoVirginia-class attack submarinesannually.

Meeting that goal requires more than expanding work at the shipyards. Specialized components, propulsion equipment, castings, electronics, and other systems must also be available at a rate that matches submarine construction.

BAE Systems says it is investing in manufacturing and engineering capabilities across Louisville, Kentucky; Jacksonville, Florida; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, to support the Navy’s requirements.

The official contract identifies Louisville as the place of performance. The company’s wider network of facilities and engineering capabilities is intended to support the production effort and its associated technical requirements.

The Virginia-class program is central to the Navy’s undersea force structure. Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding, thenuclear-powered attack submarinesconduct missions ranging from anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering to land-attack operations.

The latest BAE Systems award does not introduce a new propulsion design or increase the submarine’s performance specifications. Rather, it secures continued production of a critical component as the Navy works to expand the industrial capacity behind its future submarine fleet.

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BAE Systems says it is producing two Virginia-class propulsor sets annually as the Navy works to expand its submarine-building capacity.BAE Systems

Key Takeaways

  • BAE Systems has received a $137.66 million US Navy contract to continue manufacturing Virginia-class submarine propulsor assemblies, with work extending through September 2032.

  • The company says it is meeting the Navy's target of producing two Virginia-class propulsor sets annually and has delivered major assemblies for every submarine in the class to date.

  • The contract supports the Navy's broader 1+2 submarine manufacturing goal, which calls for building one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines annually.

BAE Systems has received a $138 million US Navy contract to continue manufacturing propulsor assemblies for the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet, supporting the service’s effort to expand submarine production and strengthen its industrial supply chain.

The contract covers the manufacture of propulsor assemblies, engineering services, replacement parts, and associated manufacturing support. Its ordering period extends through September 2032, giving BAE Systems a longer-term role in supplying one of the submarine’s critical propulsion components.

The Navy awarded the contract on September 29, 2026, with an official value of approximately $137.66 million. BAE Systems announced the award on November 12.

The company says it is meeting the Navy’s production target of two Virginia-class propulsor sets annually and has delivered major propulsor assemblies for every submarine in the class built to date.

A critical component for submarine propulsion

A propulsor is the assembly that converts mechanical power from a submarine’s propulsion system into thrust, allowing the vessel to move through water. Unlike a conventional exposed propeller, modernsubmarine propulsorsare designed with acoustic performance and structural requirements in mind.

Reducing underwater noise is particularly important for nuclear-powered attack submarines, which rely on stealth to conduct surveillance, track other vessels, and operate in contested waters.

More from Military

See AllMilitaryUS Army fields 1,000-mile runway-free electric drones to hunt battlefield targetsMilitaryRussia unveils faster interceptor drone, claims it can hunt jet-powered unmanned aircraftMilitary930 mph unmanned supersonic aircraft gets advanced systems for military missionsMilitaryUS Navy installs 300-gallon mixer at China Lake to boost Tomahawk warhead capacityMilitaryUS Army tests rapid air deployment of truck-mounted rocket launchers in Hawaii

TheNavy’s budget documentationdescribes the Virginia-class propulsor as an assembly incorporating nickel-aluminum bronze blades and large steel and Inconel fabrication components. It must generate sufficient thrust to propel the submarine while meeting specified torque, shaft-speed, acoustic, and structural requirements.

This makes manufacturing a demanding engineering task. The component must withstand substantial mechanical loads while maintaining the performance characteristics required for quiet underwater operation.

BAE Systems has supplied major propulsor assemblies throughout the Virginia-class program. Itslatest contractcontinues that work while covering engineering and replacement support in addition to production.

Supporting a faster submarine-building schedule

The award comes as the US Navy seeks to expand its submarine industrial base to support a more demanding construction schedule. Its broader shipbuilding objective, often described as a 1+2 cadence, calls for producing one Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and twoVirginia-class attack submarinesannually.

Meeting that goal requires more than expanding work at the shipyards. Specialized components, propulsion equipment, castings, electronics, and other systems must also be available at a rate that matches submarine construction.

BAE Systems says it is investing in manufacturing and engineering capabilities across Louisville, Kentucky; Jacksonville, Florida; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, to support the Navy’s requirements.

The official contract identifies Louisville as the place of performance. The company’s wider network of facilities and engineering capabilities is intended to support the production effort and its associated technical requirements.

The Virginia-class program is central to the Navy’s undersea force structure. Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding, thenuclear-powered attack submarinesconduct missions ranging from anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering to land-attack operations.

The latest BAE Systems award does not introduce a new propulsion design or increase the submarine’s performance specifications. Rather, it secures continued production of a critical component as the Navy works to expand the industrial capacity behind its future submarine fleet.

Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our

Terms of Use

and

Policies

You may unsubscribe at any time.

0

COMMENT

Subscribe to

Today!

Access to exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.

Explore Now!

By

Kaif Shaikh

Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.