US Navy fast-tracks USS Massachusetts nuclear submarine

The United States Navy has bypassed a standard final testing phase for the USS Massachusetts (SSN-709), a new Virginia-class fast-attack nuclear submarine. Following successful evaluation tests, the Navy determined the vessel was ready for immediate fleet assignment, skipping the traditional post-shakedown availability (PSA) period.

Admiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, stated that the decision to waive the PSA reflects the exceptional condition of the ship and the Navy's commitment to delivering combat-ready capacity more quickly. The USS Massachusetts is the eighth ship in the Virginia class to bear the name of a U.S. state.