The United States Navy commissioned the newest addition to its fleet of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, on April 25, 2026. The USS Idaho, with its enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance and special warfare advancements, is the nation’s 26th Virginia-class submarine. Cmdr. Chad J. Guillerault, Idaho’s commanding officer, said he was “honored to be the captain of a crew so mighty that they have outshone all those before them.”
The ceremony culminated a multiyear construction process. The Idaho was built as part of a teaming agreement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding. The submarine was christened on March 16, 2024, at the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton.
The Idaho is the fifth Navy vessel named for the Gem State. Its most recent predecessor was a New Mexico-class battleship commissioned in 1919 that earned seven battle stars for its service in World War II, including action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The first USS Idaho was a wooden, steam-powered sloop completed in May 1866 as part of a Civil War-era program. Sails were added later, and it became one of the Navy’s fastest ships.
“The Idaho connection is more than a name, it is a legacy — a legacy built before us that is being reborn today,” Guillerault said at the ceremony. “I am incredibly proud to be the commissioning captain of a vessel so steeped in tradition.”
U.S. Sen. James Risch of Idaho delivered the keynote address at the ceremony. Hung Cao, acting secretary of the Navy, also spoke, emphasizing the strategic importance of the new submarine.
“We are a maritime nation, bordering on both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Our commerce depends on safe and secure sea lanes of communication,” Cao said. “President Trump’s commission to our military is simple: to achieve peace through strength. The USS Idaho joins the fleet ready to answer the call to action, in any ocean, at any time.”
The ship’s honorary dignitary, Teresa Stackley, gave the traditional order to “man our ship and bring her to life.” As is customary, crew members then ran aboard the submarine. Stackley is the daughter of a Navy Sailor and the spouse of Sean Stackley, a former Navy officer who served as assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition from 2008 to 2017 and as acting secretary of the Navy from January 20 to August 3, 2017.
Other speakers at the ceremony included Idaho Gov. Brad Little and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Adm. William Houston, director of naval reactors, spoke about the technical achievements and operational readiness of the vessel.
The USS Idaho brings state-of-the-art warfighting capabilities to U.S. undersea forces. Virginia-class submarines feature enhanced stealth, cutting-edge surveillance capabilities and special warfare innovations to meet the Navy’s multimission requirements. Virginia-class subs are 7,076 metric tons, 115 meters long, and have a beam of 10.36 meters.
Powered by a nuclear reactor, they don’t require refueling during their expected life cycle, reducing costs and downtime. The Idaho is the eighth Block IV Virginia-class sub, a configuration that lets vessels go longer between depot maintenance and offers an increased number of deployments, the Navy says.
The day before the Idaho’s commissioning, commanding officer Guillerault and crew members met with reporters. “We’re going to introduce the newest multi-mission predator, the newest gem of the fleet,” Guillerault said, according to the news website CT Insider. “She is a warship ready to go out there and do good things for the country.”
Guillerault will lead a crew of about 150 people, and the sub’s homeport will be in Groton. Among the Idaho’s capabilities are covert intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance, and an array of weapons, including advanced torpedoes, anti-ship cruise missiles, naval mines and land-attack missiles.