Tag Archives: Ohio-class submarine

NAVSEA Says Attack Sub Repairs Much Improved as USS Boise Enters Yard Following 4-Year Wait

NAVSEA Says Attack Sub Repairs Much Improved as USS Boise Enters Yard Following 4-Year Wait

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The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Boise (SSN 764) enters Souda Bay, Greece, during a scheduled port visit on Dec. 23, 2014. Boise conducted naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe during its last deployment that ended in January 2015 — and the submarine has been awaiting a maintenance availability ever since, due to limited capacity in public and private yards. US Navy photo.

After years of struggling to conduct attack submarine maintenance – with the four public naval shipyards prioritizing SSN work last, behind a backlog of ballistic-missile sub and aircraft carrier work, and private shipyards finding it tough to resume submarine repair work after years of only doing new construction – the Navy appears back on track for its SSN maintenance, the head of Naval Sea Systems Command told USNI News. Read More →

Navy Beginning Tech Study to Extend Trident Nuclear Missile Into the 2080s

Navy Beginning Tech Study to Extend Trident Nuclear Missile Into the 2080s

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An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740) off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Fla. on May 9, 2019. US Navy Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy’s Strategic Systems Program this fiscal year will begin looking at what new technologies it will need to develop to sustain and modernize its nuclear weapons so they can operate on the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines through the 2080s. Read More →

SECNAV, CNO Update Congress on Columbia SSBNs, New Large Surface Combatant

SECNAV, CNO Update Congress on Columbia SSBNs, New Large Surface Combatant

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Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740) blue crew returns to its homeport at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga. in 2018. US Navy Photo

CAPITOL HILL – Navy leaders told House and Senate appropriators this week that the service is ready to move out on its first new large surface ship design in a decade. Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson also said the service is moving to build in more margin for its new ballistic missile submarine program. Read More →

Official: U.S. Far Behind China, Russia in Modernizing Nuclear Arsenal

Official: U.S. Far Behind China, Russia in Modernizing Nuclear Arsenal

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An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN-739) off the coast of California in 2008. US Navy Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – China and Russia had their money on winning asymmetric advantages in conventional and nuclear forces in the last decade, and now the United States is playing catch-up in modernizing its sea, air and land nuclear forces, the Pentagon’s top policy official said Wednesday. Read More →

Panel: Navy May Have to Choose Between New Ballistic Missile Subs or 355 Ship Fleet

Panel: Navy May Have to Choose Between New Ballistic Missile Subs or 355 Ship Fleet

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Gold crew of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN-743) arrives home to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash. US Navy Photo

The Navy could be forced to make hard choices sooner rather than later when it comes to finding the money to replace its aging ballistic missile submarines or reach its goal of having a fleet of 355 warships, a panel of security and budgetary experts said this week. Read More →

Navy Conducts Flight Test to Support Conventional Prompt Strike From Ohio-Class SSGNs

Navy Conducts Flight Test to Support Conventional Prompt Strike From Ohio-Class SSGNs

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The ballistic-missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) arrives home at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following a strategic deterrent patrol on May 5, 2015. US Navy photo.

This post has been updated to note that SSGN submarines, not SSBNs, would likely take on the conventional prompt global strike mission, if the Pentagon were to continue with this capability development.

The Navy Strategic Systems Program and the Department of Defense this week tested a conventional prompt strike capability that could one day be fielded from guided-missile submarines. Read More →

STRATCOM: Pentagon ‘Going Too Slow’ to Counter Commercial Drone Threats to Nuclear Sites

STRATCOM: Pentagon ‘Going Too Slow’ to Counter Commercial Drone Threats to Nuclear Sites

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An Immersion Vortex 250 drone collides with the end of the spray from a water cannon, part of the counter-unmanned aerial system solution. US Air Force Photo

The military is moving too slowly to protect U.S. nuclear sites from the threat of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, the commander of the Pentagon’s strategic forces told lawmakers on Wednesday. Read More →

Submarines To Become Stealthier Through Acoustic Superiority Upgrades, Operational Concepts

Submarines To Become Stealthier Through Acoustic Superiority Upgrades, Operational Concepts

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The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) , which along with the future USS South Dakota has been used to test acoustic superiority measures, prepares to get underway for routine operations from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., March 15, 2016. US Navy photo.

The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) , which along with the future USS South Dakota (SSN-790) has been used to test acoustic superiority measures, prepares to get underway for routine operations from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., March 15, 2016. US Navy photo.

The submarine community is focused on maintaining access and boosting acoustic superiority after operating in relatively permissive environments for several years, two Navy officials told USNI News. Read More →