An artist rendering of the future Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines.
The Pentagon has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $2.28 billion contract to begin advance procurement and early construction on five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, the next-generation vessels that will form the backbone of America’s sea-based nuclear deterrent for decade, as reported by Army Recognition.
The award covers long-lead materials and initial construction work for hulls SSBN-828 through SSBN-832. Most of the labor will take place at Electric Boat’s Groton, Connecticut shipyard, with additional components built in Rhode Island and Virginia. Naval Sea Systems Command will oversee the program as it moves deeper into serial production.
The Columbia class is the planned replacement for the aging Ohio-class submarines, which have served since the early 1980s. The Navy intends to field 12 Columbia-class boats to replace 14 retiring Ohios between 2027 and 2040, with the first Columbia scheduled to enter service in 2031. The program is the Navy’s top acquisition priority, shielded from most budget pressures to avoid gaps in nuclear deterrent patrols.
At 20,810 tons submerged and 560 feet long, Columbia-class submarines will be the largest ever built for the US Navy. Each will carry 16 Trident D5 ballistic missiles and feature an advanced sonar suite, pump-jet propulsion, and extensive quieting technologies designed to keep them undetectable through more than 40 years of service. A major advantage is the life-of-ship nuclear reactor core, which eliminates the midlife refueling overhaul required by the Ohio class.
Costs continue to rise, with the Navy estimating total procurement at $126.4 billion. The lead submarine alone is projected at $15.2 billion, reflecting first-in-class engineering and design work. Still, staying on schedule is considered critical. The White House has requested additional funding to avoid delays, and both Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding are expanding their workforces to keep pace.
With this latest contract, the Columbia program moves further into full production, setting the stage for the strategic submarine fleet that will carry America’s most survivable nuclear weapons into the 2080s.