Key Points: The U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine program, valued at $132 billion to build, is facing delays and cost overruns.
-The project will cost a total of $348 billion over its many-decade lifetime, creating a sense of fear in the Pentagon if the project continues to have issues.
-Designed to replace the aging Ohio-class fleet, the Columbia-class is vital to maintaining the U.S. nuclear triad, featuring 16 missile tubes for Trident II D5 ballistic missiles and advanced stealth technology.
-The first Columbia-class submarine, USS Columbia, is now delayed by 16 months, raising concerns about the program’s aggressive timeline.
-Challenges include labor shortages, supply chain issues, and a lack of schedule risk analysis.
-Meeting the 2030 operational deadline is critical to ensure uninterrupted nuclear deterrence and national security.
Columbia-Class Submarine Delays: Why It Matters for U.S. Security
The Navy is aiming to build 12 Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines at a cost of $132 billion. Meanwhile, the maritime branch is also producing Virginia-class fast attack subs at the same time. The Columbia-class program could have cost over-runs of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Government Bean Counters Are Watching Closely
A government watchdog has called the Columbia-class program the “largest and most complex submarine acquisition in the Navy’s history.”
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) said the Navy required 88 months to receive the Ohio-class nuclear submarine and wants the Columbia-class delivered 10 months quicker.
The 14 Ohio-class submarines are ending their service life, and as the Ohios are retired, the Navy would like to replace each with a Columbia-class. To make this happen, the first Columbia-class sub must be in the water patrolling area by 2030. That is why reducing schedule slips and costs for the Columbia-class is so important.
Delays Have Begun
Electric Boat, which has facilities located in Groton, Connecticut, and Quonset Point, Rhode Island, is the prime contractor for the Columbia class, with Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding serving as its major subcontractor. Newport News is swamped with the construction of new vessels and the maintenance of others. The shipyards would like to produce one Columbia-class per year beginning in 2026.
An artist rendering of the future U.S. Navy Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. The 12 submarines of the Columbia-class will replace the Ohio-class submarines which are reaching their maximum extended service life. It is planned that the construction of USS Columbia (SSBN-826) will begin in in fiscal year 2021, with delivery in fiscal year 2028, and being on patrol in 2031.
However, that date has slipped to 2027, and then there is a further delay of 16 months for the first in the class – the USS Columbia to be ready for sea trials.
Complex Construction Plan
“Each shipbuilder will construct segments of the submarines. For example, Newport News will build the stern, bow, and other major components of the Columbia class submarine. In its role as the prime contractor, Electric Boat will complete final outfitting and delivery of the submarines to the Navy. The shipbuilders are similarly dividing work for the Virginia-class submarines, though they alternate final outfitting and delivery for that program,” the GAO said.
But here’s the problem. One delay at either shipyard for this complex arrangement would send the entire program into waiting mode. More troubling is that “Electric Boat has not conducted a schedule risk analysis of the lead submarine’s accelerated construction schedule,” the GAO explained.
Columbia-class Compared to Ohio-class Submarines
Meanwhile, the Ohio-class has served for more than 42 years. So, it is important to keep the Columbia-class on schedule.
Ohio-class SSGN Submarine. Image Credit: US Navy.
The Columbia class will be stealthier than the Ohio class. Armaments are decisive for the boomer. Each submarine will have 16 missile tubes for deploying 16 Trident II D5 nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles.
The Columbia-class boats will deliver Mk 48 heavyweight torpedoes. They also have a modern sensor system.
Columbia-Class: The Project Is Not Easy
Like all shipyards, it isn’t easy to find qualified workers. This has led to a labor shortage. And supply chain delays have resulted in the employees who are constructing the boats to wait for certain components.
Plus, anytime there is a completely new order for a brand new vessel there is bound to be stops and starts.
National Security Is at Risk
Submarine-launched nuclear missiles are an essential part of the U.S. nuclear triad. The longer there are delays in construction of the Columbia-class, the more this component of American nuclear strategy suffers. Ship builders must work with the Department of the Navy and Congress to make sure there is a plan to mitigate delays.
This means conducting a schedule risk analysis. Recruiters at the shipyards must find the best workers that they can. Supply chain issues should be solved by now, and builders should eventually make up for lost time.
The program should get back on track if the Columbia-class can institute these recommendations. It is good that government watchdogs are catching these problems before they fester. Shining sunlight on a problematic weapons program helps all parties that are involved and lights a fire under the manufacturers.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 21, 2020) The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) gets in position to receive a payload of supplies from an MV-22B Osprey in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands. Underway replenishment sustains the fleet anywhere/anytime. This event was designed to test and evaluate the tactics, techniques, and procedures of U.S. Strategic Command’s expeditionary logistics and enhance the overall readiness of our strategic forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Devin M. Langer)
Let’s hope this submarine gets back on schedule. Lawmakers will be watching for additional delays and cost over-runs; thus, the Columbia-class program needs to rise to the challenge.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
Mcpig
December 1, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Naming USS ships after politicians of, arguably, little or no note, is a disgustingly effete practise. I liked it better where ships were named, in class, for specific events, battles or real heros. In WW-2 Carriers were named for battles, battleships for States, cruisers for cities, etc. Who the F is Henry Jackson for example? Most peeps don’t know who Gerald Ford was! Time to return to those proud names and in doing, restore sailors pride in service on them.