PHILADELPHIA, PA — July 15, 2026 — Rhoads Industries, Inc. today announced a long-term agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), to provide advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding support services for critical U.S. Navy submarine construction programs.
The agreement establishes a ten-year period of performance spanning 2026 through 2035 and represents an estimated program value of approximately $2.5 billion, reinforcing the longstanding partnership between Rhoads Industries and General Dynamics Electric Boat and their shared commitment to strengthening America’s submarine industrial base.
Under the agreement, Rhoads will continue providing steel fabrication, structural assembly, outfitting, and other shipbuilding support services from its operations at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The work is expected to average approximately 1.4 million workforce hours annually, supporting one of the region’s largest long-term shipbuilding programs.
As production ramps over the life of the agreement, Rhoads expects its workforce to approach 1,500 employees—an increase of more than five times the company’s workforce at the end of 2023. This sustained growth will create hundreds of additional high-quality careers in skilled trades, engineering, project management, and manufacturing, further strengthening the Greater Philadelphia region as a center for advanced maritime manufacturing.
To support this growth, Rhoads Industries is making significant investments in its manufacturing infrastructure. In addition to its existing facilities at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the company is constructing Building 57A, a purpose-built manufacturing facility scheduled for completion in June 2027. Designed specifically to support the increasing production demands of the U.S. Navy’s submarine programs, Building 57A will significantly expand the company’s manufacturing capacity and position Rhoads Industries to meet the needs of this long-term partnership.
“This agreement represents far more than a contract—it is a long-term investment in American manufacturing, the skilled workforce that powers our industry, and the future of our nation’s maritime defense,” said Mike Rhoads, President of Rhoads Industries. “This long-term agreement reflects the confidence that comes from years of successful partnership and consistent performance. Our workforce has earned a reputation for delivering on the Navy’s most demanding shipbuilding programs, and we are proud to continue that legacy with General Dynamics Electric Boat as we help expand the industrial capacity needed to support one of our nation’s highest defense priorities.”
“Rhoads Industries has earned our confidence through consistently improving its performance and focusing on the high standards of submarine shipbuilding,” said Mark Rayha, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. “This long-term agreement reflects our shared commitment to grow and strengthen the nation’s submarine industrial base.”
The agreement provides Rhoads with the long-term stability to continue investing in workforce development, apprenticeship programs, advanced manufacturing technologies, and facility expansion while supporting the U.S. Navy’s mission for decades to come.
General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, it employs more than 26,000 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at www.gdeb.com.
Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 110,000 people worldwide and generated $52.6 billion in revenue in 2025. More information is available at www.gd.com.
