U.S. Navy Virginia-class submarines complete key maintenance milestones

Two Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines have reached significant maintenance milestones as they prepare to rejoin the U.S. Navy fleet.

At the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, the USS North Carolina (SSN 777) successfully completed its dry dock phase on August 12, 2026. This phase involved restoration and modernization work, transitioning the vessel to the waterborne phase of its scheduled lifecycle maintenance.

Separately, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard reported that the USS John Warner completed its hot operations test program ahead of schedule. This testing is part of the vessel’s Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA), an overhaul designed to ensure operational longevity. The John Warner is noted as the first Block III Virginia-class submarine to undergo drydocking at one of the four U.S. Navy public shipyards.