The US Navy laid the keel for the first of its new Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines at an Electric Boat facility in Rhode Island.
The Columbia class will be the cornerstone of our strategic deterrence and the ultimate guarantor of our national security according to the Secretary of the Navy.
There are longstanding problems for the Columbia program that could limit the Navy's ability to deliver nuclear and conventional missiles.
In addition to cataloging difficulties in the Columbia program, a recent report from the Government Accountability Office stated that the program's overall cost has increased by another $3.4 billion.
The Navy is considering extending the life of some of its older SSBNs, even though some are close to the end of their lives, because of the threat of delays.
The Columbia class will be the largest submarine ever built by the US.
Each of the subs has a range of over 7,500 miles and can carry up to eight targetable reentry vehicles.
According to the Navy, the boats will have superior acoustic performance and state-of-the-art sensors, making them the most capable and quiet submarine ever built.
The Columbia-class boat's reactor will not need to refuel during the planned service life, making it more cost efficient and allowing the subs to be operational for longer periods.
The British Royal Navy and the Columbia-class are working together. Both classes will have the Common Missile Compartment, a section of the submarine developed by the US and UK. The boats will be armed with weapons.
There will be 12 Columbia-class boats built by the Navy. The construction of the District of Columbia and the second one in Wisconsin will begin in March of 2019.
The biggest American submarine is the Ohio-class subs. The Ohio-class subs are more armed than the Columbias, with four torpedo tubes and 24 D-5SLBMs, but they are slightly smaller.
Between 1976 and 1997 eighteen Ohio-class SSBNs were constructed. The Navy decided in 2002 that it could meet US strategic nuclear needs with 14 Ohios and converted four of the oldest boats into cruise-missile submarines.
These boats traded their torpedoes and missiles for up to 154 land- attack cruise missiles, which are launched from the subs' re fitted missile tubes.
The ability to mount a dry-deck shelter holding a SEAL Delivery Vehicle or inflatable boats allows the SSGNs to carry and deploy 66 special operations troops for covert missions.
The Navy increased the service life of the Ohios to 42 years because they perform a vital mission.
The first patrol of the District of Columbia will take place in 2031. All but five of the Ohios have been in service for at least 30 years.
Considering the importance of the US's nuclear posture, that is a tight time frame. Cost overruns and delays in major Navy acquisition programs are not uncommon, and the Navy is now thinking about extending the lives of up to five Ohio SSBNs.
The program executive officer for strategic said that they are doing evaluations on what it would take to extend the ships for two years.
The Virginia-class Block V nuclear-powered attack subs will replace the four Ohio-class SSGNs.
The Virginias have an 84-foot extension known as the Virginia Payload Module, which allows the subs to launch 65 torpedo-size weapons.
The Navy is considering extending the service lives of Ohio-class SSGNs.
We want to make sure we have the missile-shooter capability in the SSGNs for as long as we can, but it's going to be a delicate balancing act.
Things are complicated by the GAO report. The Columbia program's ability to meet its accelerated building schedule is at risk due to a ballooning price, according to the report.
There are construction issues and disruptions caused by Covid-19 that could cause delays on the Columbias. Delays on the newest Virginias have been caused by shipbuilders pulling workers from the Virginia class to work on the Columbia class. It is more likely that Ohio-class SSGNs will need to remain in service.
The Ohio-class life extension plan is in the evaluation stage. The Navy says its top priority is the Columbia-class.
The Ohio-class that has guarded us for decades is nearing the end of its service life. The security of our world and the safety of our sailors need to be modernized.
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