BAE Systems says it is prepared to scale up its submarine manufacturing capacity, citing more than $260 million invested in its facilities and workforce over the past six years. The company made the announcement on 8 April, emphasising its growing role in the U.S. Navy’s submarine industrial base.
The investments span BAE Systems’ sites in Louisville, Kentucky, and Jacksonville, Florida, where upgrades have been made to support welding, machining, and heavy-lift operations. Together, the two locations now offer over 200,000 square feet of dedicated space for submarine-related work.
In a statement, Charles Lewis, director of Submarine Programs at BAE Systems, said in an update: “BAE Systems is ready to expand submarine production and build the submarine structures that are vital to safeguarding our nation. Our facilities have the capacity for growth and our workforce has the skillsets required to manufacture major structures for these complex giants.”
At the Louisville site, the company has invested over $60 million, enhancing welding equipment, installing advanced machining centres, expanding testing and assembly capabilities, and building on-site training schools for welders.
The facility already manufactures major components for the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet, including Virginia Payload Module missile tubes, propulsors for the Virginia-class, and bearing support structures for the Columbia-class.
In Jacksonville, more than $200 million has been invested to modernise the shipyard, including the development of a new ship-lift, a land-level repair facility, and dedicated training centres for welding and manufacturing skills. The site began fabricating deck structures for the Columbia-class submarine programme last year.
The company positions these developments as part of its contribution to the broader U.S. maritime industrial base and a signal of its ability to support increased submarine production. The announcement comes as the U.S. Navy and its partners seek to boost output of both Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines amid growing strategic demand.
