The US Navy ballistic missile submarines are secretly lurking in an undisclosed location in the depths of the ocean. Your mission is to prevent a nuclear attack on the United States by sending a message to potential adversaries that any nuclear attack would be answered with a devastating counterattack.
This will be the mission for the Navy’s next generation Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. They are scheduled to conduct their first patrols in 2030.
The Columbia-class submarines have now been in development for more than a decade. They are designed to replace the existing Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines with a new generation of technology designed to ensure that a potential adversary does not consider a first-strike nuclear attack on the United States.
The first submarine has been under construction since 2020, and the Navy’s Columbia-class acquisition efforts were recently recognized for exemplary performance.
The Navy has worked with General Dynamics Electric Boat and its industrial partners for many years to conduct research and begin building the boat modules. Many years ago, a technique called “tube-and-hull” forging began, a process of welding four missile tubes together to build into the structure of the submarine.
The arrival of the Columbia submarines might not come soon enough as the existing Ohio-class submarines have already been extended years beyond their expected lifespan. The submarine branch of the nuclear triad is believed to be critical to US strategic deterrence efforts; It is almost impossible to find and track the submarines at sea.
The Columbias are equipped with a nuclear reactor that has the life of the core, meaning it doesn’t have to return to the dock for a lengthy refueling overhaul during its life. This significantly extends uptime and deployment continuity, so 12 Columbia-class submarines are expected to complete the ballistic missile mission of 14 Ohio-class submarines.
The submarines will be armed with upgraded Trident II D5 nuclear missiles and incorporate multiple technologies built into the Navy’s newest Virginia-class attack submarines. Some of these advances include “fly-by-wire” navigation systems, which allow precise speed and depth to be monitored and automated by a computer system. The boat will also use fiber optic cable and communication systems to allow seafarers to view images from a periscope anywhere on the ship. A sailor does not have to stand directly under the periscope to see his field of vision, but can see it from another point in the ship.
Kris Osborn is the Defense Editor of the National Interest. Osborn previously worked at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army – Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as a presenter and on-air military specialist on national television networks. He has appeared as a visiting military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also holds a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
Image: US Navy Flickr.
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