The Navy’s Columbia-Class Submarines Costs $348,000,000,000

Key Points and Summary: The U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarine program, essential for replacing the aging Ohio-class SSBNs, faces significant delays and cost overruns.

-Originally projected to be operational by 2030, the lead submarine, USS District of Columbia, is now 16 months behind schedule.

-Key issues include supply chain delays, skilled labor shortages, and challenges in delivering critical components like turbine generators.

-With a price tag of $348 billion, the program underscores the difficulty of maintaining America’s nuclear deterrence while extending the service life of Ohio-class subs.

-As global tensions rise, timely delivery of Columbia-class boomers remains critical for U.S. strategic security.

The Columbia-class SSBNs Are Behind Schedule and Way Over Budget

When was the last time you heard of a new military program being ready on time and under or at budget? I’ll wait.

Delays and budget overruns happen with every new weapons program: aircraft, aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, etc. 

But rest assured, the military contractors can keep asking for checks Washington will fill. 

So, the latest shocker (not) is that the Columbia-class SSBNs are way behind schedule and far over budget. And it’s quite fitting that the first Columbia-class submarine is the USS District of Columbia (SSBN826). As of November, she was 16 months behind schedule. 

The Columbia-class SSBN program is slated to cost $348 billion (with a “B”). Meanwhile, Washington lawmakers are worried that timely delivery and operational success are critical. 

And with each passing month, the Navy has to extend the service life of five Ohio-class submarines to maintain the country’s nuclear deterrence. And that isn’t an inexpensive undertaking. The Ohio-class subs have more than 42 years of service life. 

The Bean Counters Are Watching A Slow Process

What are the significant issues? Part of the problem is the dearth of skilled laborers. Another is that so many companies are part of the program that if there is a delay in one part, it affects all the partners.

“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 (Government Accountability Office) said.

“Electric Boat has not conducted a schedule risk analysis of the lead submarine’s accelerated construction schedule,” the GAO added.

The GAO reported that the Navy required 88 months to receive the Ohio-class nuclear submarine and wants the Columbia-class delivered 10 months quicker.

What Are The US’ SSBNs?

The Navy’s ballistic missile submarines, SSBNs (the official title stands for ship, submersible, ballistic, nuclear) are often called “Boomers.” They serve as an undetectable launch platform for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and are designed specifically for stealth and the precise delivery of nuclear warheads.

The Navy’s 14 Ohio-class SSBNs originally carried up to 24 SLBMs with multiple, independently-targeted warheads. However, under provisions of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, each submarine has permanently deactivated four missile tubes and now can only carry a maximum of 20 missiles. 

Each new Columbia-class 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.

The SSBN’s strategic weapon is the Trident II D5 missile, which provides increased range and accuracy over the now out-of-service Trident I C4 missile. SSBNs are part of the US nuclear triad, with land-based silos and aircraft.

Columbia-class Program Beset With Delays

Bloomberg reported that General Dynamics Corp. and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) were charged with designing and constructing the 12-boat class, a roughly $130 billion program in which each submarine is assembled from six large hull segments.

Then, during construction, super modules would be emplaced with the systems and connections before GDC conducts the final assembly, theoretically saving time and money. However, too many companies involved in the construction are delayed. 

Ohio-Class SSGN Submarine U.S. Navy.

HII was to ship the bow in May 2025 from its Newport News, Virginia, yard to the General Dynamics facility in Groton, Connecticut. But it won’t. According to internal service figures, it is now estimated for a June 2026 delivery, 13 months late.

The US Navy contracted with Northrup Grumman to deliver the first ship’s turbine generators by November 2021. The submarines have two generators that provide the subs’ propulsion and electric power requirements. 

Northrup Grumman had planned to provide months of margin before those components would be needed. Instead, the turbine generators are projected to be delivered in early 2025, delaying the schedule even more. 

Columbia-Class Does Have Some Exciting New Technology

The Columbia-class submarines have new features to make them stealthier and more powerful. The 16 Trident missiles will be loaded on the first eight boats constructed.

An upgraded D5LE2 ballistic missile will be installed from the ninth Columbia-class boat onwards. This Life Extension missile is a product of a joint American/British effort. Since the $1.2 billion deal will be shared by both countries, the missile is cost-effective.  

The D5LE2 “won’t look like the D5 that we’ve got today, it won’t be completely new, it will be somewhere in the middle,” said Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, director of Strategic Systems Programs (SSP).

The three-stage missile is promoted as the most advanced ballistic missile in the world. The D5LE2 can carry multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles and features a celestially-aided inertial navigation system. 

STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA, Wash. (Aug. 12, 2012) The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) prepares to conduct a personnel transfer as it returns to its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

Columbia Boomers will run on an electric drive instead of the reduction gearing and mechanical drive systems used to power most nuclear-powered subs. These boats will use a nuclear reactor to generate energy, which will then be converted to fuel the electric propulsion motor. The Columbia submarines can sail at speeds over 20 knots and operate at depths of around 800 feet. However, speeds and depth are likely much more significant than that. 

According to Naval Technology, the Columbia-class submarines will have X-shaped stern control surfaces and sail-mounted dive planes, and the hull will be covered with an anechoic coating.

Can The US Nuclear Deterrent Hold Long Enough? 

The big question for the DoD and the Navy is whether nuclear deterrence will hold while the fleet is still under construction. The Ohio-class boomers must be closely monitored for hull weakening/metal fatigue.

The radioactive fuel that runs the reactors must be replaced, and the reactors themselves must eventually be refurbished or replaced at considerable cost.

The first Columbia-class submarines are due to be at sea by 2030. It will be asking a lot of the Ohio-class boats to extend their service life much longer than that. 

About the Author:  

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.