An undated artist’s rendering of the planned Columbia-class submarine. Naval Sea Systems Command Image
The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program passed its Milestone B decision review and can move into detail design, an official told USNI News. Read More
USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2016.
Though much effort in 2016 was devoted to planning the future Navy – through a new Force Structure Assessment, three simultaneous Future Fleet Architecture studies, an alternative carrier study, ongoing future surface combatant planning efforts and more – the year was also full of major news in research, development and acquisition. At the end of Navy Secretary Ray Mabus’ eight-year shipbuilding spree, where he put at least 86 ships on contract, the year was full of commissionings, testing, fielding and planning for ships, aircraft and weapon systems. Read More
The Blue crew of the ballistic-missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) transits the Hood Canal as it returns home to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following a routine strategic deterrent patrol on Sept. 30, 2015. US Navy photo.
The Navy will formally name the first-in-class ballistic missile submarine USS Columbia (SSBN-826) in a ceremony Wednesday afternoon. Read More
U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2014. Architect of the Capitol Photo
The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee introduced a continuing resolution today that would fund the government through April 28, 2017, at last fiscal year’s spending levels – with several critical exceptions, among them a provision that would allow work to continue uninterrupted on designing the Ohio Replacement Program ballistic missile submarines. Read More
Further delays in receiving a Fiscal Year 2017 budget could put at risk many Navy efforts, including the refueling and complex overhaul of USS George Washington (CVN-73), similar to the RCOH for USS Theodore Roosevelt above. U.S. Navy photo.
Lawmakers will not pass a Fiscal Year 2017 budget before the Trump administration takes office and will instead extend the current continuing resolution that is funding the government at FY 2016 levels. The move could prove problematic for the Navy in several ways. Read More
The following is the Oct. 25, 2016 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Columbia Class (Ohio Replacement) Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
The Ohio-class fleet ballistic-missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) off the coast of Florida ON Sept. 31, 2016.
The Program Executive Office for Submarines is working to create schedule and cost efficiencies on the Ohio Replacement (Columbia class) Program to counteract inevitable delays during construction, he said last week. Read More
An artist’s conception of the U.K.’s Successor-class future planned ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). UK Ministry of Defense Photo
LONDON — The first of the Royal Navy’s future ballistic nuclear missile submarines will be known as HMS Dreadnought, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on Friday. Read More
A deck view, looking toward the bow, of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine OHIO (SSBN-726) with its missile tubes opened during precommissioning activities. The Navy is moving ahead with its Ohio Replacement Program, recently named the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program, to achieve lead boat construction in 2021, delivery in 2029 and deployment in 2031.
Navy and Pentagon acquisition officials this week spent a day at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Connecticut and Rhode Island, taking a close look at the Columbia class — formerly the Ohio Replacement Program — ahead of a Milestone B decision this fall, the Navy’s acquisition chief told USNI News. Read More
Workers stand pose for a photo in the four-tube “quad-pack” built for the U.S. Ohio Replacement-class and U.K. Successor-class. General Dynamics Electric Boat Photo via US Navy
The U.S. Navy and U.K. Royal Navy’s replacement ballistic missile submarine programs both took steps forward this week, with the Navy awarding $101.3 million to General Dynamics Electric Boat to produce the first 22 missile tubes under the Common Missile Compartment program, and the Brits cutting steel on the first boat in the Successor-class program. Read More
