Rough waters ahead for Navy new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine construction

WASHINGTON – Earlier this week, auditors from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted the U.S. Navy’s cost estimate for the future Columbia­class nuclear ballistic submarines is overly optimistic, which likely will lead to cost growth in the program. The American Enterprise Institute reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

11 April 2019 -- Though interpretations of GAO’s report imply mismanagement, the truth is that the consequences of prior short-sighted decisions are rearing their ugly heads today.

Fourteen Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile subs fulfill the Navy’s strategic deterrence mission today, with several prowling the oceans at any given time. Part of America’s nuclear triad, these stealthy subs ensure that any nuclear strike against the United States would be met with a massive retaliatory strike.

However, Ohio­class boats are running out of nuclear fuel, and the submarine hulls only can withstand a certain number of long dives at great depths. They require replacement by the future Columbia-class submarine.

Related: Draper Lab to upgrade more submarine-launched Trident nuclear missile guidance systems

Related: U.S. nuclear weapons modernization continues; Lockheed Martin to build submarine ballistic missiles

Related: Lockheed Martin to build and upgrade electronic warfare (EW) to enable submarines to detect enemy radar

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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