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).

Are There Serious Problems In The U.S. Navy's Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program?

A Navy rendering of the future ballistic missile submarine Columbia, the lead boat in the next generation of nuclear missile boats. (Navy)

Defense News: The US Navy’s top acquisition priority stumbles out of the gate

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Navy’s $122.3 billion Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program is off to an inauspicious start after faulty welding was discovered in several missile tubes destined for both the Columbia and Virginia-class programs, as well as the United Kingdom’s follow-on SSBN program.

In all, 12 missile tubes manufactured by BWXT, Inc., are being scrutinized for substandard welds. Seven of the 12 had been delivered to prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat and were in various stages of outfitting, and five were still under construction. The Navy and Electric Boat have launched an investigation, according to a statement from Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman Bill Couch.

“All BWXT welding requiring volumetric inspection has been halted until the investigation is complete,” Couch said.

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Update #1: Sloppy Welding On Launch Tubes For The Navy's New Missile Sub Could Point To Larger Problems (The Drive)
Update #2: Small errors could create a big problem for the Navy's next ballistic missile submarine (Business Insider)

WNU Editor: All that I can say is spot these problems now rather than later.

The U.S. Navy's Next Missile Submarines Are Not Cheap

Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda R. Gray

Popular Mechanics: The Navy's Next Missile Submarines Will Have an 'Eye-Watering' Price Tag

The 12 Columbia-class submarines will replace the existing 14 Ohio-class subs in conducting nuclear deterrence patrols.

The Navy’s next generation ballistic missile submarine will cost $100 billion over the lifetime of the program, an amount Secretary of Defense Richard V. Spencer describes as “eye-watering.” The amount covers everything from research and development of the submarines to construction of the twelve submarines. The Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines will form the sea-based leg of America’s nuclear triad through the 2080s.

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WNU Editor: The cost of building two of them is the equivalent of building a Ford aircraft carrier. They are definitely not cheap.

The U.S. Navy Wants The Colombia-Class Submarine To Be Manufactured And Deployed Earlier Than Planned

The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alabama, one of the boats the Navy plans to replace with the Columbia-class. USN

Warrior Maven: Navy Accelerates New Nuclear Armed Columbia-Class Submarine

The Navy 2019 budget request increases funding for the service's new nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine by $2 billion over this year's amount in what appears to be a clear effort to further accelerate technology development and early production. The request, which marks a substantial move on the part of the Navy and DoD, asks for $3.7 billion in 2019, up from $1.9 billion in 2018. The new budget effort is quite significant, given that there has been a chorus of concern in recent years that there would not be enough money to fund development of the new submarines, without devastating the Navy shipbuilding budget.

The Columbia-class plus-up is a key element of a cross-the-board Navy budget increase; overall, the Navy 2019 request jumps $14 billion over this year, climbing to to $194 billion.

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WNU Editor: These new subs are not cheap .... The U.S. Navy New Missile Sub Will Now Cost $7.2 Billion (November 12, 2017).

GAO Report: The U.S. Navy's New Nuclear Submarine Is Going To Cost Way More Than $128 Billion

Time: The Navy's New Nuclear Submarine Is Likely to Cost Way More than $128 Billion

The U.S. Navy underplayed the development risks posed by key technologies for its new $128 billion Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarine, the Government Accountability Office said.

If the risks materialize, they are likely to result in increased costs and schedule delays for a program that already appears to be underfunded, the watchdog agency said in a report released Thursday on the Navy’s top acquisition program.

General Dynamics Corp. is the prime contractor for the submarine, which is designed to carry intercontinental ballistic missiles.

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WNU Editor: The US Navy is disputing the GAO report .... US Navy denies Columbia submarine technological, cost, and schedule risk (IHS Jane's 360). What's my take, this is not a cheap program (from Reuters) .... The program has an expected cost of $267 billion over its life cycle, including $128 billion to research, develop, and to buy 12 submarines.

Update: The GAO report is here.

More News On The GAO's Report On The U.S. Navy's New $128 billion Columbia-Class Nuclear-Powered Submarine

US Navy’s new missile sub cruising for cost overruns, warns watchdog -- Defense News
Navy Underestimated New Submarine's Technical Risks, GAO Says -- Bloomberg
GAO says it's 'unknown' if technology in Navy's new Columbia-class submarines will work as planned -- Business Insider/Reuters
GAO: Likely Inherent Errors in Key Components of US Strategic Nuclear Subs -- Sputnik International

The U.S. Navy New Missile Sub Will Now Cost $7.2 Billion

The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alabama, one of the boats the Navy plans to replace with the Columbia-class. USN

The Warzone/The Drive: Navy Trims New Missile Sub Cost to $7.2B, But Struggles to Keep Existing Subs Operational

The service is looking to build three subs a year, or more, but more than a dozen boats sit idle waiting for repairs.

The U.S. Navy says it had gotten the average cost of each of its future Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, or SSBNs, down to almost $7.2 billion and that the project is on schedule. The latter point is especially important since the service remains concerned about whether shipyards can deliver boats on time while its existing subs are also struggling to meet operational demands due to a major maintenance backlog.

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Michal Jabaley, who is the Program Executive Officer for Submarines made the announcement at the Naval Submarine League’s annual conference earlier in November 2017. The service is planning to buy 12 Columbia-class boats in total to replace the bulk of the Cold War-era Ohio-class, with the lead ship entering service in 2031 if everything continues on schedule.

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WNU Editor: $7.2 billion to build one ballistic missile submarine ?!?!?!?!

Pentagon Approves Purchase of 12 New Nuclear Armed Submarines For A Cost Of $128 Billion

An undated artist’s rendering of the planned Columbia-class submarine. Naval Sea Systems Command Image

Bloomberg: Fleet of 12 Nuclear Submarines in Line for Pentagon Approval

* Departing weapons buyer approves advanced development
* General Dynamics in talks with Navy on $128 billion project

The Pentagon’s top weapons buyer has approved advanced development for a fleet of 12 new nuclear-armed submarines, a potential $128 billion project that the Navy calls its top priority.

Frank Kendall, the undersecretary for acquisition, signed the decision memo that officially moves the program forward late Wednesday. Shortly before acting, Kendall, who’s departing when President Barack Obama steps down on Jan. 20, said in an interview,“I’m hoping to have it done before I leave.”

The new Columbia-class submarine is part of a trillion-dollar program to modernize the U.S.’s sea-air-land nuclear triad over the next 30 years, including maintenance and support. Obama has backed the effort, to the chagrin of some arms control advocates, and President-elect Donald Trump has seemed to signal his support. “The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes,” Trump wrote in a Twitter posting.

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WNU Editor: $128 billion for 12 nuclear subs?!?!?!? $10+ billion per sub?!?!?! This nuclear triad upgrade is now costing real money.

More News On The Pentagon Approving The Purchase of 12 New Nuclear Armed Ballistic Submarines For A Cost Of $128 Billion

Pentagon approves potential $126 billion submarine project -- UPI
Kendall Says Full Speed Ahead On Navy Nuke Missile Subs: $125B Columbia Class -- Breaking Defense
Navy moves forward on new Columbia-class submarines -- CT Mirror
Navy About To Order Fleet Of Nuclear Submarines In Final Days Of Obama Administration -- Daily Caller
Columbia-class Submarine Program Passes Milestone B Decision, Can Begin Detail Design -- USNI News
The Virginia-Class Submarine Is Arguably the Best in the World (And the U.S. Navy Wants More) -- National Interest

New U.S. Colombia-Class Submarine Will Be The 'Quietest And Least-Detectable Sub' In The World

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Scout Warrior: Could a New X-Stern and Electric Drive Motor Make the Ohio Replacement Program Submarine the Stealthiest in the World?

The Navy hopes emerging "quieting" technologies will make its new nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines the stealthiest that ever existed.

The Navy’s new nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines will incorporate a stealthy “X”-shaped stern and noise-reducing electric drive technology as a way to try to engineer the quietest and least-detectable submarine in the history of the world, senior service officials said.

The emerging Ohio Replacement Program ballistic missile submarines, designed to patrol the undersea domain performing a crucial strategic deterrence missions, is slated to be operational by the 2030s and serve through the 2080s.

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Update #1: US Developing 'Quietest and Least-Detectable Sub' in the World (Sputnik)
Update #2: Document: Report to Congress on Navy Columbia Class Submarine Program (USNI News)
Update #3: Navy Ohio Replacement Sub Class to Be Named for D.C. (USNI News)

WNU Editor: I suspect that the cost for one of these subs will be the second most costliest product for the Pentagon to buy (after aircraft carriers).