Leonardo DRS Secures $3 Billion Contracts for Cutting-Edge Columbia-Class Submarine Venture with the U.S. Navy

Leonardo DRS, Inc. has secured contracts exceeding $3 billion, when entirely funded, to deliver integrated electric propulsion system solutions for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarines. This agreement reinforces DRS’s standing through shipset 12 for the Columbia-class initiative. This contract was previously disclosed in the DRS 2023 Q3 financial briefing.

General Dynamics Electric Boat and the U.S. Navy selected Leonardo DRS to engineer and fabricate the permanent magnet main propulsion electric motor, the propulsion motor drives, switchgear, and the propulsion controls – the core of the Columbia Electric Drive Propulsion System. These vital elements constitute the central propulsion mechanism of the next-generation ballistic missile submarine fleet. All prototype elements of this system have successfully passed full power endurance tests and other assessments at the Navy’s land-based testing facility.

“This accolade emphasizes Leonardo DRS as a nimble and reliable collaborator for the U.S. Navy and General Dynamics Electric Boat, having now been awarded contracts to furnish our cutting-edge electric propulsion components through shipset 12 for the Columbia-class program,” stated Leonardo DRS CEO Bill Lynn. “We take pride in being a member of this team and the provider of these crucial components for the most sophisticated ballistic missile submarine in our Navy’s history.”

The Columbia-class submarine is an innovative class of ballistic missile submarines and stands as a top priority for the U.S. Navy. They are engineered to replace the Ohio-class submarine fleet. At 560 feet in length and displacing nearly 21,000 tons, the Columbia-class submarines will be the largest ever constructed by the United States.

“DRS remains dedicated to our alliance with Electric Boat and the U.S. Navy,” remarked Jon Miller, senior vice president and general manager of Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems. “Their strategic mission is our driving force. Together, we are pioneering advanced systems for essential next-generation national security platforms like the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.”

The integrated electric propulsion components will be produced at DRS facilities in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Danbury, Connecticut, and High Ridge, Missouri. “This accolade reflects our skilled workforce and top-tier propulsion technology capable of providing performance from the power source to the propeller shaft,” Miller stated.

Leonardo DRS is a premier provider of next-generation electrical power conversion and propulsion technologies for the U.S. Navy, featuring major systems for upcoming submarines and surface vessels. Investments in the company’s market-leading propulsion and power generation technology have opened avenues to utilize proven electric drive capabilities for future naval platforms. DRS solutions are at the forefront of delivering power flexibility to meet the enhanced power demands of both current and future naval platforms.