Mike Gilday said, “This is a program with zero margin for delays.” Congress and the Navy are keeping an eagle-eyed watch over the process, and it also explains the substantial contract modification: A slip in the schedule could constrain the Navy’s ability to launch nuclear missiles. The Ohio-class boomers reach the end of their life cycles in 2027, so any delays in construction of the new submarines could be a major problem. The Columbia class will have a life-of-ship nuclear reactor, which means the reactor could be in service for at least 40 years, with only a brief midlife maintenance period. The vessels are planned to be 560 feet long, with a beam of 43 feet and 21,000 tons of displacement. The Columbia class will be massive – the biggest submarine the United States has ever built. The Columbia is the first of 12 subs, and it should begin patrolling in 2031. Research and development for the Columbia class has been underway for years. It will be larger than the Ohio-class, the current largest submarine, in terms of submerged displacement.The USS Columbia is the first of its class, and work began on the boat in 2020. (GDEB Photo via US Navy)Ĭolumbia-Class Submarines will be the largest U.S. Workers stand in the four tube "Quad-Pack" built as part of the CMC Program. The Navy’s Strategic Systems Program is responsible for CMC development efforts. Gas venting, and launch hardware and software. In addition to the missile tubes, the CMC program also provides systems to support the missiles and the launch equipment, including power, cooling, missiles are armed with nuclear warheads maintained by the Department of Energy (DOE). The Columbia class will hold four Quad-Packs (16 tubes) and the Dreadnought Class will use three Quad-Packs. Each Common Missile Compartment (CMC) will will hold four missle tubes, and is therefore often called a "Quad-Pack". Since 2008, the United States and the United Kingdom (U.K.) have been jointly developing a common system to house the tubes that will carry these submarine launched ballistic missiles. Integrated Power System (IPS) and Nuclear ReactorĪs part of the US strategic nuclear deterrence plan, Columbia class SSBNs and the Royal Navy’s Dreadnought Class of SSBNs will carry the Trident II D-5 missile for the first portion of their respective operational lives.X-shaped Stern Control Surfaces (hydroplanes).Navy has also stated that "owing to the unique demands of strategic relevance, SSBN(X)s must be fitted with the most up-to-date capabilities and stealth to ensure they are survivable throughout their full 40-year life span."Īdditional reported design features include: Submerged displacement about the same as that of Ohio-class submarines.Beam at least as great as the 42-foot (13 m) beam of the Ohio-class submarines.16 missile launch tubes instead of 24 missile launch tubes on Ohio-class submarines. Missile launch tubes that are the same size as those of the Ohio class, with a diameter of 87 inches (2,200 mm) and a length sufficient to accommodate a D-5 Trident II missile.Life-of-the-ship nuclear fuel core that is sufficient to power the submarine for its entire expected service life, unlike the Ohio-class submarines, which require a mid-life nuclear refueling.Expected 42-year service life (each submarine is expected to carry out 124 deterrent patrols during its service life).$109.8 billion for 12 boats (FY2021, projected)Įnlarged version of the Virginia-class LAB sonarĪlthough still evolving, the following are some of the characteristics for the SSBN(X) design:
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