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Nuclear submarine construction is an extraordinarily rigorous process involving
thousands of highly skilled people and millions of labor hours over a five-year
time span. The foundation of Electric Boat's construction capabilities
is modular assembly - a pioneering development that has revolutionized the
submarine industry. Submarine construction takes place at two locations
with a combined replacement value of about $1 billion - the Quonset Point,
R. I., manufacturing facility and its Groton, Conn., shipyard. At
these two state-of-the-art operations, digital design data is transformed
into hull sections packed with components, subsystems and complete systems
that are assembled into sophisticated undersea vessels which remain in service
for up to 40 years and longer.
Specialized facilities and
equipment include machine, pipe, electrical/electronic and HVAC shops,
heavy-lift cranes and transports and three graving docks. Specific capabilities
include state-of-the-art steel processing, sophisticated CAD/CAM interfaces,
accuracy-control systems, advanced welding techniques, and test and certification
expertise.
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