Submarine with new design nears completion in Groton

The first in a series of Navy attack submarines with a newly redesigned bow is nearing completion at Groton's Electric Boat, which says it is on track to beat production deadlines with the boat that will become the USS North Dakota.

The military contractor, which got a boost this week when Congress agreed to not delay the purchase of a Virginia-class sub, is hoping that its record of delivering submarines under budget and ahead of schedule will help protect it from cuts in Washington.

"There's no question we're in a very constrained fiscal environment," said Robert Hamilton, a company spokesman. "Any program that is over-running on costs and schedule is going to get a second look."

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