![]() The Columbia is the first of 12 subs, and it should begin patrolling in 2031. Research and development for the Columbia class has been underway for years. Navy, and could ensure that they’re able to serve well into the 2070s and beyond.The USS Columbia is the first of its class, and work began on the boat in 2020. While this has greatly increased the estimated recurring unit procurement costs of the Block V boats, the numerous improvements and upgrades will make these the most heavily armed attack submarines ever in the U.S. The boats can also host the new version of the anti-ship Maritime Strike Tomahawk.Īccording to H I Sutton, writing for Naval News, the Block Vs are expected to receive the Large Vertical Array (LVA) flank sonars – which would be in addition to the six ultra-modern Light Weight Wide Aperture Arrays (LWWAA) that are located along the submarine’s side. The VPM also increased the number of torpedo-sized weapons carried by each submarine from about thirty seven to about sixty-five, an increase of seventy-six percent.Īdditionally, with advancements in hypersonic missile technology, the Virginia-class’s larger launcher will be well suited to host such weapons once they are deployable. Each VPM on the Block Vs also provides the capacity for 40 cruise missiles. This added eighty-three-foot section is to increase the number of missile launch tubes from twelve to forty, which in essence could triple the capacity of short targets for each boat.Īs part of the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), this extended mid-body section can be used to store and fire additional Tomahawk cruise missiles and other payloads including large-diameter unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). submarines produced behind only the Ohio-class. As a result, the Block V versions of the Virginia-class are the second-largest U.S. The Block V submarines are larger than the previous versions, with the length increased from 377 feet to 460 feet, and with greater displacement from 7,800 tons to 10,200 tons. When procured at a rate of two boats per year, VPM-equipped Virginia-class SSNs have an estimated procurement cost of about $3.45 billion per boat,” the reported noted. “Most Virginia-class boats procured in FY2019 and subsequent years are to be built with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), an additional, 84-foot-long, mid-body section equipped with four large-diameter, vertical launch tubes for storing and launching additional Tomahawk missiles or other payloads. The Block V will greatly increase the number of missiles that can be carried and essentially make it a cruise missile submarine (SSGN). In fact, the VPM will give the Virginia-class, which is already a heavily armed nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, with a massive increase in capabilities. The Block V is more than just a few upgrades. ![]() ![]() ![]() With that added submarine, the total cost of the contract with primary contractor Electric Boat will be $24.1 billion, a net increase of $1.89 billion for the full contract. The deal was awarded by The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington D.C, and was an extension of the original contract that was awarded in December 2019 for nine boats with an option for a tenth. Meet The US Navy’s Block V Virginia-class Submarine That Has A Secret…Payload Module – A little over a year ago, the United States Navy awarded a $2.42 billion contract modification to General Dynamics’ Electric Boat subsidiary to build an additional Block V Virginia-class submarine equipped with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |