When it comes to delivering the submarines the U.S. Navy needs, teamwork across General Dynamics is proving to be a powerful advantage.
Earlier this year, General Dynamics Land Systems began supporting General Dynamics Electric Boat by manufacturing structural submarine components at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, Ohio. The effort marks a new chapter in collaboration between two General Dynamics business units with different histories, but a shared commitment to national security and manufacturing excellence.
Known as the nation’s sole producer of the M1 Abrams main battle tank, the Lima facility has spent decades building some of the Army’s most capable combat vehicles. Now, that expertise is helping support one of the Navy’s highest-priority programs.
Gary Hadding, director of JSMC operations, said the Lima workforce has embraced the opportunity. He said the skills used every day to build tanks and combat vehicles translate extremely well to the shipbuilding industry.
The Lima team is fabricating, welding and inspecting internal structural components that will become part of future Virginia-class fast-attack submarines and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. The components are then shipped to EB, where they are incorporated into submarine construction.
The collaboration demonstrates the strength of General Dynamics’ diverse manufacturing capabilities. The partnership also highlights the remarkable craftsmanship shared across General Dynamics. According to Hadding, welders at the Lima facility successfully passed the rigorous certifications required for Navy shipbuilding work.
For Electric Boat, the collaboration provides an additional source of high-quality manufacturing support at a time when submarine production remains a national priority, said Rex Spakes, who as senior director of operations support is in charge of EB’s Focus Factory strategy.
“Meeting the Navy’s demand for Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines requires innovation, collaboration and a strong industrial base,” Spakes said. “This partnership with our colleagues at General Dynamics Land Systems demonstrates how the talent and manufacturing expertise that exist across General Dynamics can be leveraged to strengthen submarine production and support our nation’s security needs.”
The effort is expected to grow over time. Production began with a relatively small number of components, but plans call for gradually increasing the size and complexity of the work. Future phases could include larger assemblies and increased production volumes as the partnership matures.
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