First Lady Michelle Obama will join top officials of General Dynamics Electric Boat and christen Illinois, the U.S. Navy's most advanced nuclear submarine on October 10.

The First Lady is the ship's sponsor. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will be present at the ceremony, an invitation-only event, as the principal speaker, General Dynamics announced on Monday.

The Illinois, the 13th ship of the Virginia class, is the first nuclear-powered attack submarine U.S. Navy combatants designed for the post-Cold War era. Unlike many of their contemporaries, Virginia class submarines are designed for a broader spectrum of combat operations, including open-ocean and littoral combat missions. They are planned to replace the older Los Angeles-class submarine.

So far, Electric Boat, in conjunction with construction partner Newport News Shipbuilding, has delivered 12 Virginia-class submarines, with another nine on the way.

General Dynamics is one of the world's largest defense contractors based in Virginia. The company focuses on post-Cold War era defense consolidation.