General Dynamics Corporation’s GD business unit, Electric Boat Corp, clinched a modification contract to support Virginia-class submarines. The work related to the deal will be performed in Annapolis, MD.Valued at $43 million, the contract is expected to be completed by August 2025. Per the contract, the company will provide lead yard support, and development studies and design efforts related to Virginia-class submarines. The deal was awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC. What’s Favoring General Dynamics?Nations across the globe are increasingly augmenting their defense spending lately in a bid to strengthen their defense structure. The increased defense spending is mainly for upgrading and improvising the defense systems with technologically advanced features fueled by the rising geopolitical tensions. To this end, military submarines with enhanced undersea warfare capabilities form integral parts of any nation’s defense system.In this context, it is imperative to mention that the increased focus on military submarines is likely to benefit General Dynamics, as its Electric Boat business unit is a prime contractor of submarines, and has established standards of excellence in the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines for the U.S. Navy.In this regard, the business is responsible for all aspects of design and engineering, and leads the construction of Virginia-class attack submarines. The company has 19 Virginia-class submarines in its backlog scheduled for delivery through 2031. This results in a steady flow of contracts from the Pentagon involving submarines. The latest contract win is a bright example of that.Such a trend in demand is likely to bolster GD’s revenue-generation prospects from its Electric Boat business unit and may boost its overall top line.Looking AheadPer the report from Mordor Intelligence, the submarine market???is projected to witness a CAGR of 4% between 2022 and 2031. Such abounding growth trends indicate ample growth opportunities for General Dynamics, as it enjoys a lucrative position in the military submarines space.A few defenseprimes, which can reap the multitude of gains from the expanding submarine market,are BAE Systems BAESY, Northrop Grumman NOC and Huntington Ingalls Industries HII.BAE Systems’ Astute class submarines are the U.K.’s largest and most powerful attack submarines and can strike targets up to 621 Miles from the coast with pinpoint accuracy.The long-term earnings growth rate of BAESY is pegged at 9.3%. Shares of BAE Systems have rallied 17.8% in the past year.Northrop Grumman designs, develops and produces communication systems, sensors, signal processing and electronic warfare systems to counter increasingly sophisticated sea-based threats. Northrop Grumman also provides launch systems for submarines. Its eject launch technology has powered more than 7,000 successful launches.Northrop Grumman has a long-term earnings growth rate of 2.2%. NOC’s investors have gained 30.4% in the past year.Huntington Ingalls has a teaming agreement with Electric Boat to build Virginia class fast attack nuclear submarines. Its division Newport News is participating in the design and construction of the Columbia class (SSBN 826) submarine as a replacement for the current aging Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarines.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Huntington Ingalls’ 2022 earnings suggests a growth rate of 13.4% from the prior-year reported figure. Shares of HII have gained 15% in the past year.Price PerformanceShares of General Dynamics have rallied 8.2% in the past year against the industry’s decline of 23.1%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Zacks RankGeneral Dynamics currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here This Little-Known Semiconductor Stock Could Be Your Portfolio’s Hedge Against Inflation Everyone uses semiconductors. But only a small number of people know what they are and what they do. If you use a smartphone, computer, microwave, digital camera or refrigerator (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), you have a need for semiconductors. That’s why their importance can’t be overstated and their disruption in the supply chain has such a global effect. But every cloud has a silver lining. Shockwaves to the international supply chain from the global pandemic have unearthed a tremendous opportunity for investors. And today, Zacks' leading stock strategist is revealing the one semiconductor stock that stands to gain the most in a new FREE report. It's yours at no cost and with no obligation.>>Yes, I Want to Help Protect My Portfolio During the RecessionWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC): Free Stock Analysis Report General Dynamics Corporation (GD): Free Stock Analysis Report Bae Systems PLC (BAESY): Free Stock Analysis Report Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research