68 Vol. 10 / No. 4 / April 2018 Global Aviator
Industry news
The Columbia-class submarine
is being designed to replace
the Ohio-class ballistic missile
submarines, whose remaining
boats will be decommissioned,
at a rate of one per year,
beginning in 2027. A total of
12 submarines are planned
with the Columbia-class taking
over the role of submarine
presence in the United States’
strategic nuclear force.Construction of the lead boat
is planned to begin in 2021. Each
submarine will have 16 missile tubes tocarry one Trident II D5LE missile apiece.
The submarines will be 170.7m long and
13.1m in diameter, making it as long as
the Ohio-class design, and 30.5cm larger
in diameter. The Columbia class is a
next-generation nuclear-armed ballistic
missile submarines designed to ensure
a second-strike capability in the event of
a nuclear attack on the United States.
Research conducted before the
decision was taken to build the subs
including studies to determine the
number of boats needed, missiles
needed at sea and at station, would
it remained undetected by enemy
submarines, as well as design and
construction possibilities, including
adding missile tubes to the design ofthe Virginia class of fast-attack submarine,
building Ohio-class replacement
submarines using updated Ohio-class
designs, or developing an entirely new
Ohio replacement submarine design.Ohio replacement
submarine
It was decided that a new design
would be the least expensive option
that could meet all of the technical
requirements. Columbia's nuclear core
will also last as long as the submarine
is in service whereas both the Ohio and
Virginia class subs would need mid-
life re-fuelling of the nuclear cores.
In March 2016, the Navy announcedUS Navy plans
new multi-billlion
dollar submarine
The Ohio submarine will be replaced by the
Columbia class submarine and will
be decommissioned in 2028