The American Chief of Naval operations has praised the Groton-based Electric Boat shipyard for delivering the latest Virginia class attack submarine a year ahead of schedule and under budget. USS Mississippi (SSN 782) was handed over to the US Navy 363 days ahead of contract schedule and more than $60 million below target cost. The ninth vessel of the class took around five years to build from start to finish, some two years quicker than the firstof class.
Earlier, on 13 April, the names of a further five Virginia class vessels were announced. Conforming to tradition, the future submarines are being named after US states, with two of them recalling the names of WWII battleships. They are USS Illinois (SSN 786), USS Washington (SSN 787), USS Colorado (SSN 788), USS Indiana (SSN 789) and USS South Dakota (SSN 790).
