Navy $5 Billion Deal Builds New Nuclear-Armed Columbia-Class Sub

by Kris Osborn

For Integrated Product and Process Development of the COLUMBIA Class submarine, 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.

The contract award is for the design, completion, component and technology development and prototyping efforts for the COLUMBIA Class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs), a Navy statement said. This work will also include United Kingdom unique efforts related to the Common Missile Compartment. (Navy Statement HERE)

The $5 billion contract award comes amid concurrent Navy efforts to accelerate design support, development and construction the new class of submarines– to ensure rapid progress toward the goal of engineering the most lethal, high-tech and advanced ballistic missile submarines the world has ever seen.

“The COLUMBIA class submarine is the most important acquisition program the Navy has today,” Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer said in a statement. “This contract represents a significant investment in maintaining our strategic deterrent into the future, as well as our ongoing partnership with the United Kingdom.”

Designed to serve well into the 2080s and beyond, Navy and General Dynamics Electric Boat developers are hoping to leverage years of science and technology development to best position the new submarine to enter service by 2031.

“Awarding this contract is an important step in ensuring an on-time construction start in FY 2021,” Rear Admiral David Goggins, COLUMBIA Class Program Manager, said in a service statement.

The large, multi-billion dollar deal follows a DoD $203 million modification to an existing deal between the Navy and General Dynamics Electric Boat earlier this year – to begin manufacture of 17 new tactical missile tubes able to fire nuclear-armed Trident II D5 missiles.