Columbia-Class: Navy’s new missile submarine faces ‘significant delays’

What you need to know: The U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarine ballistic missile program is experiencing significant delays and cost overruns, according to a September 30 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

-The projected cost of the lead submarine has risen to approximately $8.6 billion, potentially creating a capability gap between the retirement of the Ohio-class submarines in 2027 and the Columbia-class becoming operational in 2031.

-Over seven years, the GAO has made thirteen recommendations to improve program efficiency and reduce costs. To address these issues, the GAO proposes revising cost estimates, detailed cost analyses, production improvements, improved quality assurance for outsourced work, and updated outsourcing plans.

The Navy’s Columbia-Class Submarine program is facing cost overruns and delays

The Navy’s $130 billion investment in twelve Columbia-class submarines aims to replace the existing fourteen Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, ensuring continued nuclear deterrence despite current challenges.

The Navy’s new submarine ballistic missile program is facing additional delays that could potentially create a capability gap, a government office has found.

In its latest report on the progress of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) could cost hundreds of millions of additional dollars and face significant delays.

The GAO report

In a report released September 30, the GAO estimates that the submarine program could cost hundreds of millions of dollars more and bring the total for the lead submarine to about $8.6 billion.

This is not the first time the GAO has identified problems with the development of the Columbia-class submarine. In seven years, the state office has made thirteen recommendations to make the program more efficient and less expensive. Frequent reviews have pointed to increasing costs and problems with program maturation, design and construction.

As these challenges continue, there is a real danger that the new class of nuclear submarines will not be ready on time, causing operational and strategic problems for military planners.

In terms of timeline, the Navy plans to begin decommissioning the Ohio-class submarines in 2027, while the first Columbia-class ship should be operational and underway in 2031. If there are delays in the retirement of the Ohio class or the Introducing the Columbia class, the Navy risks creating a capability gap in its contribution to the nation’s nuclear deterrent.

The latest assessment shows that the USS Columbia, the lead ship of the new subclass, will be delayed from one year to 16 months.

In total, the Navy plans to invest as much as $130 billion in the new class of nuclear-powered submarines. The money will go toward the research, design, development and purchase of twelve Columbia-class subs. These twelve submarines will replace the current fleet of fourteen Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines.

The US Navy has the largest submarine force in the world, with more than seventy submarines. The majority of warships are nuclear-powered attack submarines designed and equipped to track and sink enemy warships and merchant ships. A handful of submarines are converted missile-guided subs that can pack and fire hundreds of Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. Finally, the fourteen Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines have nuclear warheads and are prepared to wage nuclear war at any time.

How to solve the problem

In its report, the GAO makes five recommendations to the Navy on how to fix the problem and ensure the Columbia-class submarines arrive on time and on budget.

In particular, the GAO recommends that the Navy urge the shipbuilder to revise estimated costs at completion, have the shipbuilder provide a detailed analysis of all costs in its reporting, determine whether production improvements and cost savings will result from the financing supplier development, ensure that the shipbuilder has the resources and personnel to monitor the quality assurance of outsourced work and ensure that the shipbuilder provides an updated plan for all outsourced work.

Building a submarine, let alone a new class of submarines, is a tough job. And as the Chinese military recently discovered, the country is full of dangers.

About the author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist, specialized in special operations and a veteran of the Greek Army (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx and SOFREP.

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