In the United States, the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington DC has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. a $2.28 billion modification to the previously awarded contract for the construction of Columbia Class ballistic missile submarines.
The work for this order will be executed in Groton, Connecticut (70%), Newport News, Virginia (15%), and Quonset Point, Rhode Island (15%), and it is expected to be completed by December 2031.
The Columbia Class SSBNs will be armed with 16 Trident D5 intercontinental ballistic missiles and 533 mm torpedo launchers with Mk 48 heavy torpedoes, and will have a crew of 155 men.
With a length of over 170 meters, a diameter of about 13 meters, and a displacement of 20,810 tons, the Columbia Class SSBNs will be the largest submarines ever built by the United States.
The US Navy plans to construct 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) of the Columbia Class.
Currently, General Dynamics Electric Boat is assembling the sections of the first submarine of the Columbia Class, the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN 826), and the construction of the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) has started.
The delivery of the SSBN 826 to the US Navy is expected in 2027 and it should start its first operational deployment in 2030.
Image credit @General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp.
