LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Virginia Class Submarine: Newport News
built 605 days ago
The VIRGINIA Class submarine program has been designed with long-term technological innovation in mind. The built-in flexibility of VIRGINIA, including incorporation of modular design techniques, open architecture, and COTS components, allows for technological insertion and innovation. As an example of the flexibility inherent in the design of VIRGINIA, the Navy anticipates placing an advanced sail on hulls 5-6 of the VIRGINIA Class. The new sail shape and size might well provide the required volume for advanced future payloads.
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The Virginia-class's advanced technology will bring with it an increase in firepower, maneuverability, and stealth. These submarines are 377 feet long, will be able to stay submerged for up to three months at a time, and are capable of underwater speeds of more than 25 knots. They are designed to be multi-mission capable, with the most advanced levels of stealth and new systems for intelligence gathering and deploying Naval Special Warfare forces in littoral areas. The new class ... will serve as the stealthy platform of choice for ISR, strike, covert mining, SOF, ASW, and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW) missions.
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Perhaps the most novel of the new capabilities of Virginia-class submarines is their ability to transport Special Operations Forces deeper into enemy territory than ever before. The submarines are equipped with an integral lock-out/lock-in chamber able to host individual divers or support a mini-submarine, such as the Advanced SEAL Delivery System. This chamber is large enough for nine crew members and equipment, more than tripling the capacity of older submarines.
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The Tigershark is similar in construction to the Virginia class submarine and shares features with the newer Swordfish class submarine. Many prototypes for systems carried on the Swordfish were first tested on the Tigerfish. It might be considered to be an intermediate design.
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The Honorable Gordon R. England, Secretary of the Navy, addresses the employees of Northrop Grumman Newport News at the keel authentication ceremony for the newest Virginia-class submarine, Texas (SSN-775). First Lady Laura Bush and Chief of Naval Operations ADM Vern Clark were ... in attendance.
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