The U.S. Navy’s undersea fleet has grown in strength with the official delivery of the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798) to the service on November 21, 2025. Built by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division in Virginia, the handover marks a significant milestone for the American submarine industrial base.
Massachusetts is the 12th Virginia-class submarine delivered by Newport News Shipbuilding and the 25th overall constructed as part of a collaborative agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat, according to HII. The two shipyards share responsibility for designing and building the class, which is a cornerstone of the Navy’s fast-attack submarine force.
This is the fifth U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name Massachusetts, continuing a naval tradition dating back over a century. The submarine completed a series of rigorous sea trials prior to acceptance by the Navy, testing its propulsion, combat systems, navigation, and safety features, HII stated.
Kari Wilkinson, president of Newport News Shipbuilding, described the delivery as a key achievement for the shipyard this year and part of a broader effort to accelerate submarine production. “Delivering Massachusetts after its rigorous sea trials is an important milestone commitment for our team this year,” Wilkinson said. “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.”
The construction of Massachusetts involved a substantial industrial effort, with over 10,000 shipbuilders from Newport News and Electric Boat contributing to the project, alongside thousands of workers within the U.S. Supply chain. More than 20 suppliers are located in Massachusetts itself, providing equipment, parts, and services for the Virginia-class program.
Newport News Shipbuilding is one of only two U.S. Shipyards capable of building nuclear-powered submarines. The yard is currently engaged in both Virginia-class production and the construction of the next-generation Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, placing significant demands on its workforce and infrastructure.
Massachusetts (SSN 798) is a nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine designed for a variety of missions, including intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, strike operations, and support for special forces. It is the seventh Block IV boat in the Virginia-class, a configuration designed for increased operational availability and reduced maintenance downtime, according to The Defense Post.
The submarine was christened in May 2023 at Newport News Shipbuilding, with Sheryl Sandberg, founder of Lean In and former chief operating officer of Meta, serving as its sponsor. The role of a ship’s sponsor is largely ceremonial, but steeped in naval tradition, involving the formal naming of the vessel and a wish for safe operations.
Virginia-class submarines are equipped with advanced features, including nuclear propulsion for long-range, high-endurance operations, advanced sonar suites for detecting underwater threats, vertical launch systems for Tomahawk cruise missiles, and capabilities to support special operations forces. These submarines are critical to U.S. Undersea strategy as naval competition with China and Russia intensifies.
The delivery of Massachusetts comes as the Navy and shipbuilding industry face pressure to accelerate submarine construction. The Navy has set ambitious targets for the size of its attack submarine fleet, while also committing to provide submarines to Australia under the AUKUS security partnership. Capt. Mike Hollenbach, Virginia-class submarine program manager for the Navy, stated, “With each Virginia-class submarine delivery, the Navy strengthens its partnership with the shipbuilding industry to maintain our undersea dominance.”
Initial sea trials for Massachusetts were completed in October 2025, testing the platform’s navigation, propulsion, combat systems, and high-speed performance, according to USNI News. Additional trials with the crew are planned before the submarine’s commissioning next year.
The handover of Massachusetts follows the commissioning of USS Iowa (SSN 797), the 24th Virginia-class submarine, in April 2025. The Virginia-class program was initially contracted in 2014 as part of a plan to replace aging Los Angeles-class submarines that have been in service since the 1970s.
