BWXT May Stop Making SSBN Missile Tubes, Leaving Single Supplier
By: Ben Werner
August 6, 2019 5:58 PM
A key manufacturer of missile tubes for the Columbia-class submarine program is weighing not building anymore after its current commitment, leaving only one company to build the critical component for the Navy’s next ballistic missile submarine.
BWX Technologies is discussing its future missile tube work with Columbia-class prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat, but the company has not yet firmed up a contract, Rex Geveden, chief executive of BWX, told analysts during a Tuesday morning conference call. The current order of missile tubes is expected to be completed by 2021.
“At this point, we have not received any incremental orders for missile tube continuous production. As we have mentioned on prior calls, in the absence of any additional orders we plan to reallocate most of that CAPEX to support future growth in the core of Navy business,†Geveden said.
https://news.usni.org/2019/08/06/bwxt-may-stop-making-ssbn-missile-tubes-leaving-single-supplier
