A Legacy Reborn
The USS Arkansas (SSN 800) proudly carries forward the name of the Natural State as the fifth United States Navy vessel to honor Arkansas. Built at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, this Virginia-class submarine represents the cutting edge of American naval engineering, stealth, and defense technology.
Commissioned into a proud tradition of service and innovation, the Arkansas continues a legacy that began with earlier ships bearing the same name — from a Civil War-era ironclad to a Cold War nuclear cruiser. Each vessel has reflected the courage, skill, and spirit of Arkansans who serve their nation.
Christening and Sponsorship
The submarine was christened on December 7, 2024, in Newport News, Virginia — coinciding with the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The ship’s sponsors are the six women of the historic group known as the Little Rock Nine, the first African American students to attend all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, during desegregation. They represent resilience, unity, and courage in the face of adversity — values shared by those who serve beneath the waves.
The ceremony was led by Carlotta Walls LaNier, one of the Little Rock Nine, who broke a bottle of sparkling wine across the hull in a symbolic blessing of good fortune and safe passage.
“Out of many, one,” LaNier said. “Many people are behind the submarine that we christened today... We have SSN 800, but many participated in the reality of it being here today.”
Artifact On Display
The decorative covering from the bow of the USS Arkansas (SSN 800) is on display in the rotunda of the Vada Sheid Community Center at ASUMH until Thursday, October 23rd. It represents the proud naval tradition of christening — when the ship’s sponsor breaks a bottle across the bow blessing it for safe service and honoring the spirit, strength, and legacy of the State of Arkansas by naming it before its launch.
USS Arkansas Launch
The USS Arkansas (SSN 800) was launched into the James River on July 2, 2025. This marked a milestone before its final outfitting, testing, and crew certification. Following the completion of its final preparations, the submarine will be commissioned into the navy, expected in 2026.
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