The United States Navy intends to expand its Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines fleet. The Navy will spend $132 billion on developing and acquiring 12 Columbia class submarines, with the first vehicle expected to arrive by mid-2027. However, this date is subject to change pending a schedule risk analysis. Because the USS Columbia attack submarine is already in use, the lead boat will be named the USS District of Columbia.
The Navy expects to complete and deliver the lead Columbia class submarine faster than past classes. The Virginia class, or SSN-774 class submarine, took 35 million labor hours to design, and each vehicle takes roughly 9 million labor hours to construct, for $2.8 billion to $4.3 billion. The Virginia program began in 1991, though construction did not commence until 2000. The program provided the domestic submarine community with a broad spectrum of open-ocean uses, including stealth, intelligence, and combat capabilities.
Despite being larger and more complex in construction, developers anticipate a shorter schedule for the Columbia class. That said, the Department of Defense and the Government Accountability Office have noted the project’s lack of schedule risk analysis, meaning unforeseen risks could potentially delay the design and manufacturing timeline and impact the budget. Early in the program, the Navy will continue to rely on 22 active Virginia class submarines, with 66 subs planned through 2043. Virginia class submarines should remain in use until 2060 or even 2070.
The production of Columbia class submarines is a priority operation for the US military, partly because of the vehicle’s important role in the nation’s strategic deterrence plan. Submarines join intercontinental ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers are part of America’s nuclear triad, a strategy that reduces an enemy’s opportunities to attack a nation’s nuclear holdings. As part of the nuclear triad, the Columbia class program holds priority over the continued production of the Virginia class program.
The Columbia class program is one element of the Navy’s undersea warfare reorganization, which began in 2021 as the military transitioned to more modern warfighting strategies and instruments. Both attack and ballistic missile submarines have been included in reorganization efforts, with an equal focus on new construction and maintaining the existing fleet. The newly created PEO Undersea Warfare Systems office will govern all submarine activities, managing communications networks, combat systems, and more.
The construction of Columbia class submarines will also support Project Overmatch, the Navy’s contribution to the Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative. The Pentagon began the initiative to optimize communication channels between watercraft, aircraft, ground stations, and unmanned systems.
Before Project Overmatch and the Navy’s reorganization efforts, the nation’s submarine community had been hampered by parts shortages and labor-based delays. The latter will be remedied through the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, which seeks to update and streamline public repair and shipyards. Speaking on behalf of the Navy, acting assistant secretary for research, development, and acquisition Jay Stefany stated that the military would shift attention to improving shipyard processes after modernizing facilities.
The success of these endeavors will be pivotal in ensuring the Navy's preparedness for modern warfighting strategies, and the concurrent Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program reflects a commitment to overcoming historical challenges and streamlining submarine construction processes.
