"The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) Electric Boat a $9 million contract modification to plan the post-shakedown availability -- PSA -- on the nuclear submarine North Carolina -- SSN-777. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics," General Dynamics said in a statement late last month.

"The PSA, which will comprise maintenance, repairs, alterations and testing, will be performed in Groton and is expected to begin in early 2009," the company said.

"North Carolina, the fourth ship of the Virginia class, was delivered to the Navy earlier this month by Electric Boat's construction teammate, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding have received contracts to produce a total of 10 Virginia-Class submarines," General Dynamics said.

General Dynamics is based in Falls Church, Va. and has a global staff of 83,500 with 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion. The company describes itself as "a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies."