"It was a great ride. I thoroughly enjoyed it myself, and a bit more importantly, we are a step closer to delivering a great ship to the fleet."

Sea trials provide an opportunity to test all systems, components and compartments and include submerging for the first time, high-speed runs while on the surface and submerged, and a demonstration of the submarine's other capabilities.

"Today is a great day to be a shipbuilder," said Mike Petters, president of Northrop Grumman Newport News. "There is nothing better than bringing a brand-new ship back to the shipyard from her alpha sea trials."

Texas is in the final stages of construction at the Newport News shipyard. It is the second ship of the Virginia class and will be the first submarine delivered by Newport News since 1996. Delivery to the Navy is scheduled for June.

"It was great to be at sea on the Texas," said Capt. John Litherland, prospective commanding officer of the pre-commissioning unit Texas. "She is a magnificent machine and a proud testimony to the dedicated efforts of the shipbuilders here at Northrop Grumman Newport News and their partner, Electric Boat."

Northrop Grumman Newport News is teamed with General Dynamics Electric Boat to build the first 10 ships of the Virginia class. Current plans call for 30 Virginia-class submarines in the fleet. Using millions of parts from over 4,000 suppliers in 47 states and the District of Columbia, Virginia-class submarines incorporate dozens of new technologies and innovations and are the first major combatants designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind.

"This sea trial showcased a strong and effective relationship between Electric Boat, Northrop Grumman Newport News, and our industry team," said John Holmander, General Dynamics Electric Boat vice president and Virginia-class submarine program manager. "We brought this vessel together with a concept called teaming."

The first ship of the class, USS Virginia (SSN 774), was delivered in 2004. The keel for Texas was laid on July 12, 2002. The ship was christened by First Lady and Sponsor Laura Bush on July 31, 2004 and launched on April 9, 2005. The commissioning will be Sept. 9 in Galveston, Texas.

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