Welcome to Navy Live blog coverage of the Sept. 29 commissioning of the Navy’s newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Indiana (SSN 789).

The principal speaker will be U.S. Representative Jim Banks from Indiana. Diane Donald, wife of retired Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion from 2004 to 2012, is serving as the ship’s sponsor. She will give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!” in a time-honored Navy tradition.

Learn more about the boat.

Live video from Navy Port at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Port Canaveral, Florida is scheduled to begin 10 a.m. EDT.

The future Indiana (SSN 789) is the 16th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the sixth Virginia-class Block III submarine. This next-generation attack submarine provides the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea superiority well into the 21st century.

Virginia-class submarines are built to operate in the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities—sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

Follow the conversation on Twitter using #USSIndiana.

http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/09/28/uss-indiana-ssn-789-commissioning-ceremony/ U.S. Navy