Earlier this week (on or about April 28)
the U.S. Navy announced a contract with General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls to build ten new Virginia-class submarines over the next ten years. The deal, one of the largest in the history of military acquisition, ensures a continued global role for the USN's silent service.
These will be block IV. The cost per Block IV Virginia is about $1.78 billion over the contract, compared to $2.6 billion for the first Block III boat.
Including boats already under construction, between now and 2023 the USN will introduce 17 new nuclear attack submarines to the fleet. Depending on construction decisions in Russia and China, this will very nearly equal the production of the rest of the world combined. The existence of a proven design, an experienced workforce, and an industry capable of high-quality submarine construction puts the U.S. ahead of nearly every competitor. This contract suggests that, defense austerity notwithstanding, the U.S. continues to see the submarine force as playing a central role in the projection of U.S. power and the defense of U.S. interests over the next several decades.