The Columbia-class submarine, the US Navy's largest submarine ever, was initially scheduled for a 2027 delivery.
The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $15.38-billion contract modification to accelerate the Columbia-class submarine program.Under the modification, the General Dynamics subsidiary will aim to address supply chain issues that have delayed the delivery of the first submarines in the next-generation 12-vessel fleet of nuclear submarines .
The US Navy’s Columbia-class nuclear submarineThe US Navy has identified the Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine fleet as a top priority. Made up of 12 vessels, the fleet will replace the Navy’s aging Ohio-class submarines by the 2030s. The Columbia-class submarine measures 560 feet in length, meaning it will be the US Navy’s largest to date. It is also capable of traveling at more than 20 knots and can reach a diving depth of more than 800 feet .Armed with 16 Trident D5 long-range ballistic missiles, the submarine forms a part of US efforts to maintain its “triad” of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles.The submarine’s stealth features include internal machinery isolation, hull shaping, and acoustic coating. A specially designed propulsion system also reduces measurable noise.Addressing a dwindling submarine supplier baseWhile the delivery of the first two SSBN vessels was initially scheduled for 2027, issues arose. In 2024, the Government Accountability Office highlighted program challenges, including supply chain disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Other issues included delayed delivery of materials, as well as redesign and rework of some sections of the submarine.According to a US Department of War statement, meanwhile, the US’s submarine supplier base shrank from approximately 17,000 suppliers in 1980 to 3,500 in 2020. This resulted in “the Columbia class shipbuilders to rely more on single and sole-source suppliers”.As The Defense Post noted, the Navy did confirm in February that the lead submarine is on track for delivery by 2028. The second is scheduled for the end of the decade, and full-rate production would follow by 2031. Now, the new contract modification aims to bolster the program and build on that momentum.The US Navy’s $15.38-billion contract modificationUnder the $15.38-billion contract modification, the new funding will cover “design, class lead yard support and sustainment,” the US Department of War explained in a press statement. Supply chain investments, meanwhile, will support the Columbia-class SSBNs as well as the Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine program.The initial contract was awarded in 2020. The US Navy selected General Dynamics for the project. The deal was worth $9.5 billion. It covered the construction of the first two submarines in the fleet. These submarines are USS District of Columbia and USS Wisconsin .Work on the submarine programs will be carried out across various US states, including Groton, Connecticut; Newport News, Virginia; and Sunnyvale, California.
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