It is my pleasure to welcome you to our web site. General Dynamics Electric Boat has a proud history dating back to its incorporation on Feb. 7, 1899, and the delivery of the first practical submarine to the U.S. Navy the following year. During the ensuing century, Electric Boat has been at the forefront of every innovation in submarine technology. Today we are the nation's premier designer and builder of nuclear submarines.

As with many new concepts, the submarine struggled for acceptance in its early years. As warships, submarines began to come into their own during World War I, but it wasn't until World War II that submarines proved their indisputable capability by playing a critical role in the Allied victory in the Pacific. U.S. submarines accounted for 39 percent of all enemy vessels sunk in that campaign, and Electric Boat contributed mightily to the effort, delivering more submarines to the U.S. fleet than any other shipyard. At the height of production, Electric Boat was launching a boat every two weeks.

During the post-war drawdown, the shipyard turned to a variety of non-military pursuits to augment the submarine overhaul and upgrade business. In 1951, Electric Boat answered the call from then-Capt. Hyman Rickover to design and build the world’s first nuclear submarine. Launched in 1954 with much fanfare, the USS Nautilus went to sea the following year and embarked on a distinguished career, breaking every endurance record ever posted for an undersea craft. Nuclear submarines provided the Navy with vast capabilities that seafarers could only dream of prior to the Nautilus.

Driven by the challenge of the Cold War, Electric Boat developed innovation after innovation to support our fleet. From the development of the fleet ballistic-missile submarine for nuclear deterrence to designing the exceptional stealth capabilities that are the hallmark of America's attack submarines, we have helped our Navy establish and retain its leadership in undersea superiority.

Today we're the lead designer of the Virginia-class submarine and are the prime contractor for the first 10 boats of that class. The Virginia class is the first major warship completely designed using computers, a capability pioneered here at Electric Boat.

Electric Boat is also developing the technologies that will maintain the U.S. Navy’s dominance in submarine warfare well into the 21st century. We are finishing the conversion of four Ohio-class submarines to an SSGN configuration, a program widely cited as a model for military transformation in the 21st century. We are a key player in the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s Tango Bravo program, intended to develop breakthrough technologies such as shaftless propulsion, electrification of major systems and other advanced concepts. We were selected to investigate the potential for very high speed, manned submersibles, and are engaged in concept studies for the next-generation submarine. Our goal is to make Electric Boat the logical choice for designing and building the Navy’s undersea force of the future.

Exceptional capabilities take exceptional people. As you browse through our site and view our programs and capabilities, I'm sure you'll gain a greater understanding of what a dedicated group of designers, engineers, tradespeople and valued suppliers is doing to support our Navy Submarine Force and its ever-expanding roles in helping to keep the peace.

Sincerely,