November 21, 2025 2:26 PM
The 25th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, the future USS Massachusetts (SSN-798), was delivered Friday to the Navy, according to sea service and industry officials.
Massachusetts was delivered by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding Division, which was built in modular sections between HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia and General Dynamics Electric Boat’s yard in Groton, Conn. The submarine was christened in 2023 and completed its first sea trials in October this year.
“Delivering Massachusetts after its rigorous sea trials is an important milestone commitment for our team this year,” Newport News Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said in a news release. “We are absolutely steadfast in our resolve to increase the pace of submarine construction and see this as a solid step toward our overall objective.”
Massachusetts will be commissioned in a ceremony in Boston Harbor, according to the submarine’s commissioning committee. The date has not yet been announced, but the commissioning is slated to occur in the spring of 2026, Naval Sea Systems Command said.
The delivery of Massachusetts is just one of the Navy’s recent milestones. The service also commissioned the final Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, accepted the delivery of a future Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and christened the future Virginia-class USS Utah (SSN-801).
USS Pierre (LCS-38) joined the Navy fleet Saturday in a commissioning ceremony in Panama City, Fla., marking the end of a shipbuilding era. The all-aluminum Pierre is the final Independence-class LCS — the 19th of the trimaran design built at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. Pierre delivered in July.
Guests at the commissioning ceremony included Navy Secretary John Phelan, U.S Sen. John Thune, U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn of Florida, Deputy Director, Joint Interagency Task Force South, Rear Admiral Jeff Jurgemeyer, Mayor of Pierre, S.D., Steve Harding, Mayor of Panama City Allan Branch and President of Austal USA, Michelle Kruger. The master of ceremonies was Lt. Cmdr. Audrey Munji, executive officer of Pierre.
Pierre will transit to its new homeport in San Diego, Calif.
The future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG-124) was delivered Monday by General Dynamic’s Maine facility in Bath Iron Works. The destroyer’s delivery follows its July 2023 christening. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. is anticipated to be commissioned next year and will likely join the Atlantic fleet, according to the ship’s commissioning committee.
The future Utah was christened Oct. 25 at the Electric Boat facility in Groton, Conn. More than 3,000 people were invited to attend the christening ceremony, according to Utah’s commissioning committee.
Electric Boat marked the keel laying of what will be the 28th Virginia-class submarine Sept. 4, 2021. Utah will be the second U.S. Navy vessel named after the “Beehive State,” the first being a Florida-class battleship (BB-31) commissioned in 1911. BB-31 was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 where it was moored as an anti-aircraft gunnery training ship. While more than 450 crew members escaped, 58 died.
Caitlyn Burchett
Caitlyn Burchett is the managing editor of USNI News. She previously covered the Navy and Marine Corps for Stars and Stripes and regional defense news for The Virginian-Pilot. Follow @CaitlynBurchett
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