United States Navy plans replace 14 Ohio-class missile submarines by 12 Columbia-class vessels
The United States Navy is replacing its Ohio-class ballistic weapon submarines with new, more modern boats. These new boats will begin patrolling in 2031. They will carry about 70 percent of the country's nuclear arsenal. The Navy has stated repeatedly since September 2013 that it would replace the Ohio-class submarines with Columbia-class boats.
At the moment, 14 Ohio-class submarines are in US Navy service. They are expected to last for 42 years. When they are replaced, they will have a replacement of less than half their size. The Ohio-class boats began being deployed in the 1980s and are expected to reach the end of their service life in the late 2020s. Although the Navy initially delayed the replacement program by two years, it has declared it its top priority. The Navy hopes to procure at minimum two more boats before 2024.
Boats will be larger that Ohio-class vessels
The Columbia-class program is designed to produce 12 ballistic missile submarines that will replace the Ohio-class boats. The US Navy regards the Columbia-class program as a high priority and it is expected to be completed by 2021. The new boats will have a larger footprint than current submarines. They will also be the largest submarines built by the US Navy.
These new boats will have a greater submerged displacement than Ohio-class boats. These new boats will have more firepower, speed, and other advanced features. The Navy expects these boats to last 40 years or more.
Virginia-class technologies will be used on boats
The Virginia-class attack submarine technology will be utilized in the Columbia-class submarines. They will be larger and heavier than the Virginia class submarines but have fewer nukes. Their sophisticated electric-drive propulsion technology is intended to be useful for at least 50 additional years. The Navy and Electric Boat leaders believe they have a sound plan and are using techniques that have been proven with the Virginia-class submarines.
Columbia-class submarines will use the same fly-by-wire joystick controller system and large aperture bow array sonar as those used for Virginia-class attack submarines. This sophisticated control system uses algorithms for maintaining a ship’s course and sending a signal to its stern and rudder in order to control its movement. The sonar technology detects underwater threats and analyzes their shape and size.
Boats will be built by GD/EB and HII/NNS
The Columbia-class program used to be known as the Ohio Replacement Program until recently. This was in reference to the Ohio class submarines that are being replaced by the Navy. Columbia is the name of Columbia, the first Columbia-class boat. The first boat of this class will arrive in October 2027, followed by the second in October 2030 and the third in July 2032. The fourth in July 2033.
The new submarines are heavier than Ohio-class submarines. They weigh more than 23,000 tonnes, almost three times the weight of early-model Virginia class SSNs. By 2029, the US Navy is expected to require a new type of ballistic missile submarines. Major design contributors to Columbia-class will be GD/EB (NS) and HII/NS.