The US Navy is accelerating construction of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine USS District of Columbia to prepare for delays during testing

The US Navy fears delays during testing of the first Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarine, which will receive intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. The service has therefore decided to speed up construction.

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Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarines - will be one of the remaining members of the US nuclear triad. The submarines will be able to provide nuclear deterrence, being a strategically important component for America. The U.S. Navy is accelerating construction of the USS District of Columbia in order to have a reserve in case of delays during testing and to stay on schedule.

The military service and General Dynamics Electric Boat originally put a six-month buffer in the construction schedule for the first nuclear-powered intercontinental ballistic missile submarine in three decades. Work is still on schedule, but the COVID-19 pandemic ate up the six-month buffer.

Construction of the USS District of Columbia began in 2020. The U.S. Navy has allotted 84 months for the construction and testing cycle. The second Columbia-class submarine, called USS Wisconsin, will go through this period four months faster. By the end of the programme, the cycle will be reduced to 70 hours.

Strategic nuclear submarines are a procurement priority for the US Department of Defence. Therefore, the country's authorities provide the industry with additional resources. Sometimes this has to be done to the detriment of the Virginia nuclear submarine programme with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The US Navy intends to build a total of 12 Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarines. All of them will be armed with Trident II (D5) intercontinental ballistic missiles with a maximum launch range of more than 12,000 kilometres.

Source: Defence News