By Kris Osborn, Warrior
(Washington D.C.) The US Navy plans for its fleet of next-generation, nuclear-armed Columbia-class submarines to extend the undersea leg of the nuclear triad into the 2080s and beyond, something which seems entirely realistic given the planned construction and delivery schedule.
At the moment, the US Navy plans 12 Columbia-class boats with the first one deploying by 2030 or 2031. The remaining 11 Columbia-class boats are slated to deliver on an annual basis until the fleet is complete in the early 2040s. The planned number of 12 Columbia-class submarines has been in place and somewhat fixed for quite some time, however US Strategic Command Commander Gen. Anthony Cotton suggested that perhaps the service should extend its fleet beyond 12.
Identifying the nuclear threat as “significantly greater” than it was in an earlier era, Cotton said “the Navy’s new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine also likely needs to be built in greater numbers,” while speaking at the McAleese and Associates annual Defense Programs.
When entertaining Cotton’s remarks, one must instantly consider whether the US industrial base is sufficiently positioned to increase its output and op-tempo of Columbia class boats. This is a complex and unclear question, as the submarine industrial base has already been asked to massively “flex” beyond its previous capacity to build Virginia-class submarines on a much faster timeline. In recent years, the Navy has consistently analyzed and studied its industrial base capacity to assess its ability to accommodate a more ambitious production schedule. As part of this process, the Navy has been working with Congressional lawmakers to increase funding for the purpose of increasing submarine production of Virginia-class boats by at least one additional submarine per year. Adding Columbia-class boats to this equation would likely further stress this equation.
Some may wonder why the Navy is planning 12 Columbia-class boats to replace 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, and the answer is clear because the Columbias are being built with a next-generation “life-of-core” reactor. This means newer nuclear propulsion technology will remove the need for a massive mid-life refueling effort wherein a submarine has to be dry docked and out of service for extended periods of time. With a life-of-core reactor, Columbia-class submarines will be able to conduct longer patrols without needing to refuel, something which extends deployment time and operational availability for nuclear-armed attack submarines.
Expanding the size of the Columbia fleet may make sense for a number of key reasons, given the growing number of nuclear-related threats to the US. Not only is Russia expanding its nuclear arsenal and number of dual-use, nuclear capable missiles, but China plans to double the number of its nuclear warheads in just the next five years. Also in recent years, China has been building land-launched ICBM silos across its mainland, something which greatly multiplies the nuclear threat posed by the PRC.
There is also the threat of a potentially “nuclear” Iran, a scenario which could only increase the need for forward undersea nuclear deterrence. The global threat environment could, in a clear simple sense, require more forward operating undersea nuclear deterrence in order to ensure that any potential contingency can be properly responded to.
Forward presence is the conceptual essence of the undersea leg of the nuclear triad, and nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines will need to quietly and secretly patrol the dark depths of the ocean to ensure a massive retaliatory strike in the event that the US is attacked with nuclear weapons. The promise of complete retaliatory destruction is intended to send a clear message to would-be attackers that any kind of nuclear attack will result in a massive, catastrophic second strike sufficient to annihilate the attacking country. Such is the irony of nuclear deterrence, as weapons of seemingly unthinkable destructive power are built for the distinct purpose of not being used.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
