Leonardo DRS, Inc. has secured contracts exceeding $3 billion, subject to full funding, to deliver integrated electric propulsion system products for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarines. The award reinforces DRS’s role up to shipset 12 for the Columbia-class program. The announcement of this contract was previously made during the DRS 2023 Q3 earnings call.
Leonardo DRS has been selected by General Dynamics Electric Boat and the U.S. Navy to design and manufacture crucial components for the Columbia Electric Drive Propulsion System, the primary propulsion system for the next-generation ballistic missile submarine fleet. The awarded contracts, totaling over $3 billion, encompass the permanent magnet main propulsion electric motor, propulsion motor drives, switchgear, and propulsion controls.
The successful completion of full power endurance and other testing at the Navy’s land-based test facility marks a significant milestone for the prototype components. Leonardo DRS CEO Bill Lynn expressed pride in the company’s role, emphasizing its agility and trustworthiness as a partner for the U.S. Navy and General Dynamics Electric Boat. The contracts extend through shipset 12 for the Columbia-class program.
The Columbia-class submarine, a paramount initiative for the U.S. Navy, aims to replace the aging Ohio-class submarines. With a length of 560 feet and a displacement of nearly 21,000 tons, these submarines represent the largest ever built by the United States.
Jon Miller, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems, highlighted the company’s commitment to the strategic mission, emphasizing collaboration with Electric Boat and the U.S. Navy in developing innovative systems for critical national security platforms.
The integrated electric propulsion components will be manufactured in various DRS facilities across the United States. Miller acknowledged the skilled workforce and world-class propulsion technology behind the award, citing it as a testament to their capabilities from the power source to the propeller shaft.
Leonardo DRS stands as a leading provider of next-generation electrical power conversion and propulsion technology for the U.S. Navy, contributing major systems for next-gen submarines and surface ships. The company’s investments in market-leading propulsion and power generation technology position them at the forefront, offering power flexibility to meet the evolving requirements of current and future naval platforms.
About Leonardo DRS
Headquartered in Arlington, VA, Leonardo DRS, Inc. is an innovative and agile provider of advanced defense technology to U.S. national security customers and allies around the world. We specialize in the design, development and manufacture of advanced sensing, network computing, force protection, and electric power and propulsion, and other leading mission-critical technologies. Our innovative people are leading the way in developing disruptive technologies for autonomous, dynamic, interconnected, and multi-domain capabilities to defend against new and emerging threats. For more information and to learn more about our full range of capabilities, visit www.LeonardoDRS.com.