The Marlin class was stillborn, these elements are now part of the Columbia class.
Posted on 01/03/2023 2:31:27 PM PST by MeganC
GROTON, Conn. - General Dynamics Electric Boat announced today the U.S. Navy has awarded a $5.1-billion modification of the previously awarded Columbia Integrated Product and Process Development Contract for the Columbia class of submarines, the nation’s next-generation sea-based strategic deterrent.
Electric Boat is the prime contractor on the Columbia program, which will replace the aging Ohio class ballistic missile submarines. The District of Columbia (SSBN 826) and Wisconsin (SSBN 827) are presently under construction.
The contract modification has a value of $5,134,324,189. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut; Quonset Point, Rhode Island; and Newport News, Virginia; and is expected to be completed by October 2030. The award funds advance procurement and advance construction of critical components and material to support Build II (the next five ships in the class), efforts to support continuous missile tube production, enhancements to develop the Submarine Industrial Base, and sustained class maintenance and support.
“This award enhances Electric Boat’s efforts to maintain the Columbia-class production and delivery schedule. Advance procurement of long lead time materials and component construction is critical to the program, and the strategic investments in the development and expansion of the Submarine Industrial Base will help stabilize and grow the supply chain, which increases manufacturing capacity, reduces risk, and ultimately drives timely delivery of submarines to the Navy,” said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat.
At 560 feet long with a displacement of nearly 21,000 tons, the submarines of the Columbia class will be the largest ever built by the United States. Ships of the Columbia class will have a fuel core that will power the submarine for its entire service life, eliminating the need for a mid-service refueling. Electric Boat will deliver the lead ship to the Navy in 2027.
General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, the company employs more than 19,000 people. More information about General Dynamics Electric Boat is available at www.gdeb.com.
General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and generated $38.5 billion in revenue in 2021. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.gd.com.
They sure went out of their way to NOT say “nuclear powered”
fifty year fuel life.
Better reactors and using
fuel refined to nearly weapons grade.
eg more energy per pound.
I'm guessing that the improvements aren't in the nuclear reactor, but rather in increased efficiencies of the ship's propulsion motors, electric pump motors, and ship's systems requiring less power.
Thanks, makes sense.
Boomer huh. Sorry I should have read the post slower. As far as core life, lots of tech goes into designing a reactor core. There’s tricks to extend life. They’ve come a ways from the old S5W and S3G etc cores. I’ll bet their ice cream machine don’t smoke it’s belt and cause a fire drill as often as ours did either.
Ok, I could see that as well as rellic’s reply in 22
A nice order to book!
Time to wash the cash.
My understanding is that civilian reactors could have always been fueled like this but
aren't mainly to prevent a run-away reactor and that the smaller size and
military discipline allows their reactors fueled in this manner to be operated safely.
7
“They sure went out of their way to NOT say “nuclear powered””
Yeah—the focus group study showed that “nuclear power” scored even lower than “unicorn power”....
Bet that was funded by DOD as well.
These subs are money well spent. We should build far more subs and less carriers.
The Marlin class was stillborn, these elements are now part of the Columbia class.
Im sure no gender bathrooms and womens berthing have been worked into the design.
In after seven stupid jokes.
What do you find funny with that stupid joke?
” and is expected to be completed by October 2030.”
Probably about the same time that they get their first new delivery of HIMARS Missiles.
Cruciform control rod shapes have been around for a long time. There’s been others. I’m betting their nuclear make up is the biggest improvement. I have to say the layout seems logical and familiar. Polaris gave way to posiden and the Trident came with the Ohio class. I was a bilge rat aft. The weaponseers told me the warheads shot at the pitching rubber from Polaris in Yankee stadium at max range would land in the field of play, then from the Posiden in the infield, from Trident (more warheads & more range) on the mound, and I’m sure things improve here. The new non-detectablility has been improving too. Our attack boats are getting better. It’s a dangerous sport. Hours and hours of bored punctuated with moments of stark terror. Regards
Love your post.
Back in the cold war 80s one of my frat bros worked for Martin Marietta in missile guidance.
He said we can hit any manhole cover in Red Square.
“Interesting, I am wondering what tech improvement has occurred that allows for this? “
I don’t think any major improvements but more refined reactivity management.
Power reactors use a different management strategy but can run two years at full power with only 1/3 of the core as fresh fuel.
A missile boat is shutdown half its life and at low power during operation.
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