(See) SSBN(X) - Columbia-Klasse

[Schneemann]

Electric Boat to Scale Back Submarine Work Due to ‘Major Component’ Delays

The prime contractor behind the Pentagon’s top acquisition priority is slowing its rate of producing submarines due to a lack of “major components,” company officials said on Wednesday. [...] The first boat, District of Columbia (SSBN-826), was originally supposed to deliver in Fiscal Year 2027 for an anticipated first patrol in 2030, but now that delivery is set for FY 2028 at the earliest.

https://news.usni.org/2024/10/23/gd-ceo-...ent-delays

Schneemann

[Schneemann]

Kleine Wasserstandsmeldung:

Reactors for Columbia, Virginia Subs ‘In Progress’, Say Navy Nuclear Officials

The naval reactors program for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and updated Virginia-class attack boat are “in progress,” the senior civilian overlooking these programs in the Department of Energy told the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee this week.

James McConnell, acting principal deputy administrator at National Nuclear Security Administration, wrote in prepared testimony, “Naval Reactors is advancing naval nuclear propulsion capabilities to keep the U.S. Navy on the cutting edge of warfighting capability, maintaining the assured second-strike capability of the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad, and building the next generation of naval nuclear propulsion infrastructure for continued operational success.” [...]

During the second panel session, Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director for strategic systems, said the biggest challenge facing the delivery of the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile [Nuclear] “is really understanding how are we going to get this system integrated into a platform that was never purpose-built for that.” In prepared testimony, he added, “The SLCM-N weapon system is being designed and integrated with the intent to minimize impact to Virginia-class readiness and operations.” [...] Wolfe added in prepared testimony, “in parallel with efforts to develop the missile system and integrate it into the submarine, the program is working to develop the supporting infrastructure needed to store, maintain, and deploy SLCM-N. The weapon will be stored and loaded at the Strategic Weapon Facilities (SWF) already used for the TRIDENT II D5 SWS and will leverage a combination of existing, modified, and new facilities at the SWFs.”

https://news.usni.org/2025/05/22/reactor...-officials

Schneemann