NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding reports it has delivered the pre-commissioned SSN 781 submarine to the U.S. Navy.
The USS California was delivered more than eight months ahead of the scheduled contract delivery date.
"The quality and professionalism of our Navy/shipbuilding team is evident in California's outstanding performance during its recent sea trials and early delivery," said Program Executive Officer for Submarines Rear Adm. David Johnson.
California required 65 months to build. It is the eighth Virginia-class submarine and is the first delivered under the HII–NNS banner, the company said.
The next major event for California will be its commissioning Oct. 29 in Norfolk, Va.
California's commissioning is the second-to-last major acquisition milestone for the Virginia-class program in 2011.
Virginia-class submarines are designed to dominate the world's littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine, anti-surface ship, strike, special operation forces, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare missions.
