US Navy Wants A Block Buy For The Next Five Columbia-Class Subs

Artist rendering of the future Columbia-class nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), which will replace the Ohio-class submarines. Construction work on the submarine program helped drive first quareter sales at GD. (Illustration: U.S. Navy)  

Breaking Defense: Navy plans to seek block buy for next five Columbia-class subs 

A five-sub buy would have the potential to save billions in taxpayer dollars if executed well. 

WASHINGTON — The Navy wants to purchase the next five hulls for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program in a five-ship block, a plan that will require special permission from Congress but also has the potential to yield billions in savings. 

Rear Adm. Scott Pappano, the program executive officer for strategic submarines, told an audience here at the Naval Submarine League symposium the choice to purchase hulls three through seven in a block is meant to send a “positive signal” to the industrial base as well as maintain the program’s notoriously thin schedule margin. 

 “That was the most cost-effective method of trying to mitigate the transition risk of Ohio to Columbia in the mid-2030s,” he said, referring to the Navy’s eventual transition from the legacy Ohio-class submarines to the new Columbia class.  

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Update: Navy Planning Five-Ship Block Buy Of Columbia SSBNs, Little Margin Left On First Sub (Defense Daily)  

WNU Editor: There are also plans to extend the life of 5 Ohio-class subs .... US Navy wants to avoid shortfall of nuke-armed subs in 2030s (Defense News). More here .... A Handful of Ohio Subs Could Get Yet Another Service Life Extension (Defense one), and here .... Navy Could Extend Life of Five Ohio-class Ballistic Missile Boats to Hedge Against Columbia Program Delays (USNI News).