Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has reached a significant construction milestone on the US Navy’s next Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, USS Oklahoma, with completion of the vessel’s pressure hull at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) facility in Virginia.
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Finalising the pressure hull marks a critical phase in submarine construction, as it means the major hull sections have been fully joined into a single, watertight structure capable of operating underwater. With this stage complete, the submarine can now progress into the next phases of outfitting, systems integration and testing.
“Achieving pressure hull complete on Oklahoma highlights our commitment to accelerating production and delivering unmatched capability to our Navy customer,” said Jason Ward, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) vice president of new construction submarine programs.
“Our dedicated shipbuilders, Navy teammates and suppliers from across the country are working hand in hand to bring Oklahoma to life.”
USS Oklahoma is being built by NNS as part of the US Navy’s Virginia-class program, which represents the backbone of America’s modern undersea warfare fleet. These nuclear-powered submarines are designed to meet evolving maritime and security challenges, offering enhanced stealth, agility and firepower compared to earlier classes.
The Virginia class is central to the Navy’s efforts to maintain undersea dominance, with advanced sensors, strike capabilities and intelligence-gathering systems that support both conventional and strategic missions. As global maritime competition intensifies, the program continues to play a key role in ensuring the Navy’s long-term operational advantage below the surface.
The milestone also carries international significance. Under the trilateral AUKUS defence partnership, Australia is set to receive US-built Virginia-class submarines to bridge the capability gap before the introduction of UK-designed and Australian-built SSN submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The program is therefore viewed as a cornerstone of allied naval cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
USS Oklahoma is sponsored by Mary “Molly” Slavonic. She and her husband, former acting Under Secretary of the Navy Greg Slavonic, were instrumental in establishing the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) Memorial at Pearl Harbor, further strengthening the vessel’s historical and symbolic ties to US naval heritage.
Once delivered, USS Oklahoma will become the 29th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine overall and the 14th delivered by Newport News Shipbuilding, underscoring the shipyard’s long-standing role in supporting the US Navy’s submarine force.
With pressure hull completion now achieved, construction efforts will continue as the submarine moves closer to sea trials and eventual commissioning, adding another advanced platform to the Navy’s growing undersea fleet.
Originally Reported By Defence Connect.
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