Leonardo DRS Secures $3B Contracts for Columbia-Class Submarine Propulsion Systems

Leonardo DRS has secured contracts exceeding $3 billion for the supply of integrated electric propulsion system products for the U.S. Navy's Columbia-class submarines.

These contracts, spanning shipset 12 for the Columbia-class program, were awarded by General Dynamics Electric Boat and the U.S. Navy.

Under the agreements, Leonardo DRS will be responsible for designing and manufacturing critical components, including the permanent magnet main propulsion electric motor, propulsion motor drives, switchgear, and propulsion controls. These components collectively form the Columbia Electric Drive Propulsion System, representing a significant advancement in naval propulsion technology.

The Columbia-class submarines, designed to replace the Ohio-class submarines, are a top priority for the U.S. Navy. With dimensions of 560 feet in length and a displacement of nearly 21,000 tons, these submarines are set to be the largest ever constructed by the United States.

The integrated electric propulsion components will be manufactured across multiple Leonardo DRS facilities, including those in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Danbury, Connecticut, and High Ridge, Missouri. Miller attributed the success of this award to the talented workforce and world-class propulsion technology possessed by Leonardo DRS.

The first stern section, a massive propulsion component, has been delivered to General Dynamics Electric Boat, marking a milestone in the development of the USS District of Columbia, the lead submarine in the planned 12-boat Columbia-class fleet. This initiative is a pivotal element of the U.S. Navy's top-priority acquisition program, aiming to replace the existing 14 Ohio-class submarines.

Images of the stern section, crafted by Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding Division, were unveiled on Wednesday. General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), responsible for constructing the Columbia-class submarines, is actively engaged in advancing the USS District of Columbia and subsequent vessels in the fleet.