SAN DIEGO. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced today that it has been awarded a sole- source delivery task order from Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) to provide structural hardware for the propulsor of the Navy’s new Columbia-class submarine. The delivery task order is part of a broad Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Propulsor Demonstration Hardware (PDH) contract to develop and deliver critical components and hardware for installation on current and future U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarines.

“This is one of several task orders awarded to GA-EMS under the PDH contract that applies our advanced engineering and manufacturing expertise to deliver essential hardware components supporting existing and future submarines and other undersea vehicles,” stated Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “From engineering Virginia-class bearings to developing new propulsion techniques for the next submarine design, we facilitate the use of new techniques, unique materials, precision machining, and extensive test procedures to deliver equipment that meets exacting specifications and the highest quality and reliability standards to support the warfighter.”

“This task order involves the precision machining of components to extremely tight tolerances and demanding material specifications, and the delivery of approximately ten thousand pounds of hardware that will affix the Propulsor Bearing Support Structure, already provided by GA-EMS, to the submarine. The delivery will meet the shipyard’s schedule for the installation of critical components onto the first Columbia-class submarine currently under construction, and it will provide the manufacturing template for these structures in follow-on ships of this class,” continued Forney.

The hardware is scheduled for delivery in early 2023. Engineering is underway at GA-EMS’ San Diego and Tupelo, MS facilities, with all manufacturing occurring in Tupelo.