HII Authenticates Keel of Virginia-Class Attack Submarine Arkansas (SSN 800)
19 November 2022 - 9:45PM
HII’s (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division hosted a
keel authentication ceremony today for Virginia-class submarine
Arkansas (SSN 800).
The ship’s sponsors are the six women of the historic group
known as the Little Rock Nine, the first African American students
to attend all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas
during desegregation. NNS honored all nine members, including the
three men, during Saturday’s ceremony.
The Little Rock Nine made history in 1957 with their response to
the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, declaring
racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Faced with
shouting mobs, threats of violence and hostile state leaders who
blocked their way, the teenagers were escorted into the school by
federal troops at the direction of President Dwight D.
Eisenhower.
Photos accompanying this release are available at:
https://hii.com/news/hii-virginia-class-attack-submarine-arkansas-ssn-800-keel.
“Their courageous spirit will forever inspire Arkansas and her
crew. This group forever changed our nation’s history and their
submarine will help ensure their legacy continues,” NNS President
Jennifer Boykin said. “The bravery and resilience of the Little
Rock Nine sparked a fire of change and demonstrated the strength of
blending different perspectives and backgrounds. We harness this
strength in the shipyard every day. Our diversity allows us to
extend beyond our own limits, to reach new heights, and build each
boat even better than the one before it. Arkansas will be proof of
this power.”
During Saturday’s ceremony, NNS welders etched a historic six
sets of initials of the Little Rock Nine onto metal plates,
signifying the keel of SSN 800 as being “truly and fairly laid.”
The metal plates will remain affixed to the submarine throughout
its life.
“(Former Navy) Secretary Ray Mabus asked us to be supporters of
the ship and its crew. I signed on to be a foster grandmother,”
said Elizabeth Eckford, a member of the Little Rock Nine, who spoke
on behalf of the group during the ceremony. “President Eisenhower
sent 1,000 paratroopers to Little Rock to disperse a mob, bring
order, and they made it possible for us to enter Central High
School. From that point, I’ve had very high regard for specially
trained forces.”
Arkansas is the 27th Virginia-class fast attack submarine being
built under the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric
Boat.
“With advances in sound silencing, acoustic sensors, and weapons
delivery systems, Arkansas will traverse the world’s oceans and
seas as an apex predator. Representing our asymmetric advantage in
the undersea domain, the Arkansas will have no equal,” said Vice
Adm. William Houston, commander, Naval Submarine Forces.
“It is an incredible honor for the crew to begin to establish
the relationship with our namesake state of Arkansas as well as
with the ship's sponsors,” said Cmdr. Adam Kahnke, commanding
officer of the pre-commissioning unit. “The story of the Little
Rock Nine demonstrates the power of perseverance in the face of
adversity. I find the relationship with the ship’s sponsors very
appropriate due to the fact that perseverance is an essential
attribute to success in the art of submarine
warfare.”
NNS is one of only two shipyards capable of designing and
building nuclear-powered submarines. The advanced capabilities of
Virginia-class submarines increase firepower, maneuverability and
stealth.
This milestone on Arkansas comes following the delivery of USS
Montana (SSN 794), the launch of New Jersey (SSN 796), and
continued progress on Massachusetts (SSN 798) at NNS earlier in
2022, as the shipyard continues to invest in its workforce and
facilities to make steady progress on delivering these important
assets to the Navy.
About HII
HII is a global, all-domain defense partner, building and
delivering the world’s most powerful, survivable naval ships and
technologies that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and
cyber.
As America’s largest shipbuilder and with a more than 135-year
history of advancing U.S. national defense, we are united by our
mission in service of the heroes who protect our freedom. HII’s
diverse workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial
intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers;
technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business
professionals. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 43,000
strong. For more information, visit:
- HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
- HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
- HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
- HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII
Contact: Todd CorilloTodd.T.Corillo@hii-co.com (757)
688-3220
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1004fdfa-d962-4cc1-8d22-90974b500010
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