HII Christens Virginia-class Submarine PCU ARKANSAS (SSN 800) HII christened Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division on Saturday 7 December 2024. Image courtesy of Chris Rose via HII. The Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) was christened at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division on 7 December 2024. The ship is sponsored by 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. NNS honored all nine members during the ceremony. Learn more on HII.