BAE Systems secures US Navy contract for Virginia-class submarine propulsors.

According to information published by BAE Systems on October 3, 2024, BAE Systems has been awarded a $92 million contract by the U.S. Navy to continue its role in building propulsors for the Virginia-class submarine fleet. The contract includes the production of Propulsor Forward Assemblies, along with engineering design support and sustainment hardware.
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Navy's Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii. (Picture source: US DoD)

The company, which has over 30 years of experience manufacturing submarine propulsors, expressed its commitment to delivering advanced propulsion systems to the Navy. Brent Butcher, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems, highlighted the company's expertise in producing complex, heavy structures for the submarine fleet. He emphasized BAE Systems' ongoing dedication to providing reliable and high-quality submarine components to meet U.S. Navy shipbuilding needs.

BAE Systems will produce these critical submarine components at its Submarine Center of Excellence in Louisville, Kentucky, where it has already delivered 33 forward assemblies for the Virginia-class program. The company’s Minneapolis facility will continue to provide expert engineering and business support.

In addition to its work on the Virginia-class submarines, BAE Systems is contributing to the construction of the Columbia-class submarine program by building a heavy propulsor structure at its Louisville facility. The same site is also responsible for producing Virginia Payload Module launch tubes, allowing Virginia-class submarines to deploy Tomahawk missiles and other future payloads.

About the propulsors

The propulsors used in the Virginia-class submarines are a key component of their advanced stealth capabilities. Unlike traditional submarines that utilize open-bladed propellers, Virginia-class submarines are equipped with pump-jet propulsors. This modern propulsion system minimizes noise by reducing cavitation, the phenomenon where vapor bubbles form and collapse due to rapid changes in pressure around the blades of traditional propellers.

These pump-jet systems are quieter because they operate with a ducted fan inside a nozzle, which shields the blades from direct contact with the water, preventing the loud popping sounds caused by cavitation. This makes the Virginia-class more effective in covert operations and in environments requiring stealth, both in deep-ocean and littoral (coastal) areas.