The US Navy now has Ohio class submarines that carry inter-continental (Ballistic) traveling nuclear capable missiles as part of the American military triad nuclear delivery system….Manned Bombers and Land based Ballistic missiles are the other triad….
With a new infusion of defense funding the US Navy is moving to begin building a new fleet of missile subs….
The ships will of the Columbia class….
The Columbia-class submarine, formerly known as the Ohio Replacement Submarine and SSBN-X Future Follow-on Submarine, is a future United States Navy nuclear submarine class designed to replace the Trident missile-armed Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. The first submarine is scheduled to begin construction in 2021 and enter service in 2031. The submarine class is planned to remain in service until 2085.
The Columbia-class submarine is being designed to replace the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, whose remaining boats will be decommissioned, one per year, beginning in 2027. The Columbia class will take over the role of submarine presence in the United States’ strategic nuclear force.
Electric Boat is designing the Ohio-replacement submarines with help from Newport News Shipbuilding. A total of twelve submarines are planned, with construction of the lead boat planned to begin in 2021. Each submarine will have sixteen missile tubes, each carrying one Trident II D5LE missile. The submarines will be 560 feet (170.7 m) long and 43 feet (13.1 m) in diameter, as long as the Ohio class design, and one foot larger in diameter…..
image…defensenews.com