#Ohio class submarine displacement full

The estimated hands-on construction cost of the first boat is about $8.4 billion ($14.4 billion adding costs for plans, etc.). This adds 2 years of service life to each Sub, or 24 years of extra service when you consider all 12 Submarines in the class. One major cost savings is that each Columbia-class nuclear fuel core is designed to last as long as the submarine is in service, so there is no 2-year midlife nuclear refueling period as with previous SSBNs. While the Columbia class submarine is more expensive than past submarines, they are much more advanced and do offer cost saving features. In its FY 2019 request, the Navy asked for $3.7 billion for the Columbia class program - a 97 percent increase over 2018, making it the second-most expensive program in the 2019 Pentagon budget request, next to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.Ĭost-reduction studies were made to explore design and construction possibilities, and concluded that the new design would be the least expensive option that could meet all of the technical requirements. That includes all projected costs to develop, buy and operate the 12 submarines through 2042. Naval Submarine force levels, and has a total lifecycle cost for the entire class estimated at $347 billion. The Columbia class submarine is essential in order to maintain the U.S. The ceremony marked the ceremonial construction start of the Columbia-class that’s expected to commission in 2027. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) declared the keel laid for the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826). On October 28, 2020, it was announced by the Secretary of the Navy that the second Columbia-class submarine will be named the USS Wisconsin (SSBN-827). The lead submarine will be the USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826).

The Columbia-class was officially designated on 14 December 2016, by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. Since then, the program has been referred to as the Columbia Class program, and the boats as Columbia-Class Submarines. On July 28, 2016, it was reported that the first boat in the class will be named Columbia in honor of the District of Columbia. Some budget documents continue to use these terms. Boats in the class were referred to as Ohio replacement boats or SSBNXs. The Columbia-class program was known as the Ohio Replacement Program (ORP) or SSBN(X) program until 2016.

#Ohio class submarine displacement full

The Navy has also planned the Columbia-class to be fitted with the most 'up-to-date capabilities and stealth' to ensure they are survivable throughout their full 40-year life span. The Columbia-Class Submarine will be larger than the Ohio-class design in terms of submerged displacement, and therefore will be the largest submarine ever built by the United States. As the Navy’s top priority, the Columbia-class program will remain funded even at the expense of funding other Navy programs. The Navy has identified the Columbia-class program as its top priority program, and wants to procure the first Columbia-class boat in 2021.

Starting in 2031, the Navy plans to replace each retiring Ohio-class boat with a new Columbia-class SSBN submarine. As the Ohio-class SSBNs were first deployed in 1981, they will start reaching the end of their service between 20, at a rate of about one boat per year. The Ohio-class submarines were designed to have a service life of 42 years (two 20-year cycles with a 2-year midlife nuclear refueling period).

The Columbia-class program's goal is to design and build a class of 12 new ballistic missile submarines ( SSBNs) to replace the Navy’s current force of 14 aging Ohio-class SSBNs.