Huntington Ingalls gets contracts to overhaul Los Angeles-class submarines.

Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia has won two contracts worth $58 million combined in the US Navy’s efforts to repair and modernize Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, The USS Helena (SSN 725) and the USS Columbus (SSN 762).

USS HELENA (SSN 725) (Picture source: Wikimedia)

Contracts valued at $38 million and $20 million have been awarded to the company to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, upgrades, and modernization efforts on the USS Helena (SSN 725) and USS Columbus (SSN 762) respectively.

This work is necessary to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the Chief of Naval Operations scheduled maintenance availability, Pentagon said in a statement Tuesday.

USS HELENA (SSN 725) is a Los Angeles-class attack submarine. The Los Angeles-class sometimes called the LA-class or the 688-class is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that forms the backbone of the U.S. Navy's submarine force. Sixty-two submarines of this class have been completed, 41 are still in active service.

USS COLUMBUS (SSN 762) (Picture source: U.S. Navy)

USS COLUMBUS is a submarine of the Los Angeles 688 Improved Class, one of the most advanced undersea vessels in the world. While undersea warfare (USW) is its primary mission, the inherent characteristics of the submarine - stealth, endurance and agility. USS COLUMBUS missions include the deployment of special forces, minelaying, precision land attack, or anti-submarine or surface warfare while remaining undetected. The COLUMBUS is the fifty-first 688 and the twelfth improved version of this class which includes a vertical launch system for Tomahawk cruise missiles and an improved hull design for under-ice operations.