Columbia-class submarine

Columbia class
Artist's rendering of the planned Columbia-class submarine (Naval Sea Systems Command)
Class overview
Preceded by: Ohio class
Planned: 12
General characteristics
Type: Ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)
Displacement: 20,810 long tons (submerged)[1]
Length: 560 ft (171 m)[1]
Beam: 43 ft (13 m)[1]
Installed power: Nuclear reactor
Propulsion: Turbo-electric drive, pump-jet[1]
Range: Unlimited
Complement: 155 (accommodation)[1]
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Enlarged version of Virginia LAB sonar[1]
Armament: 16 × Trident D5[2]

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.[3] The first submarine is scheduled to begin construction in 2021 and enter service in 2031.[4][5][6] The submarine class is planned to remain in service until 2085.[7]

Overview

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.[8]

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.[2]

In studies to determine how many submarines would be needed to support the United States' strategic nuclear force, the United States Navy looked at the number of missiles required to be at sea and on station at any given time, the number of missiles each submarine should be armed with, the likelihood that a submarine will remain undiscovered by the enemy and be capable of launching its missiles, and how the maintenance schedule of each submarine will affect that boat’s availability to be deployed on mission.[9] Cost-reduction studies explored design and construction possibilities, including adding missile tubes to the design of the Virginia class of fast-attack submarine, building Ohio-class replacement submarines using updated Ohio class designs, and developing an entirely new Ohio replacement submarine design.[10][11]

Ohio Replacement Submarine

Using the information from these studies, the Navy concluded that a new design would be the least expensive option that could meet all of the technical requirements.[9] For example, both the modified Virginia-class and updated Ohio-class design options would have required an expensive mid-life refueling,[12] whereas each Columbia's nuclear core will last as long as the submarine is in service.[13][14]

The design and technology development of the Columbia class is projected to cost $4.2 billion (fiscal 2010 dollars), although technology and components from the Ohio and Virginia submarine classes are to be included where possible, to save money. Building the first, Columbia, will cost an estimated $6.2 billion (fiscal 2010 dollars).[15] The Navy has a goal of reducing the average cost of hulls 2 through 12 in the class to $4.9 billion each (fiscal 2010 dollars).[13] The total lifecycle cost of the entire class is estimated at $347 billion.[13] The high cost of the submarines is expected to cut deeply into Navy shipbuilding.[16]

In April 2014, the Navy completed specification documents for the Ohio Replacement Program submarines. The technical details consist of three 100-page volumes of documents detailing its configuration, design, and technical requirements. There are 159 specifications including weapons systems, escape routes, fluid systems, hatches, doors, sea water systems, and a set length of 560 feet, partly to allow for sufficient volume inside the pressure hull.[7]

In March 2016, the U.S. Navy announced that General Dynamics Electric Boat was chosen as the prime contractor and lead design yard.[17] Electric Boat will carry out the majority of the work, on all 12 submarines, including final assembly[18] All 18 Ohio-class submarines were built at Electric Boat as well.[19] Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding will serve as the main subcontractor, participating in the design and construction and performing 22 to 23 percent of the required work.[20]

In late 2016, some 3000 employees were involved, in Electric Boat alone, in the detailed design phase of the program,[21] with the procurement of the first submarine scheduled for 2021.[22] Completion of the first submarine is scheduled for 2030, followed by its entry into service in 2031. All 12 submarines are expected to be completed by 2042 and remain in service until 2084.[23]

On July 28, 2016, it was reported the first submarine of the class will be named Columbia to commemorate the capital of the United States.[24] The Columbia class was officially designated on December 14, 2016, by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, and the lead submarine will be USS Columbia (SSBN-826).[25]

General characteristics

Graphic artist concept (2012)
Cutaway image

Although still evolving, the following are some of the characteristics for the SSBN(X) design:[5][26]

  • Expected 42-year service life (it is planned that each submarine will carry out 124 deterrent patrols during its service life)[27]
  • Life-of-the-ship nuclear fuel core that is sufficient to power the submarine for its entire expected service life, unlike the Ohio-class submarines, which require a mid-life nuclear refueling[14]
  • Missile launch tubes that are the same size as those of the Ohio class, with a diameter of 87 inches (2,200 mm) and a length sufficient to accommodate a D-5 Trident II missile
  • Beam at least as great as the 42-foot (13 m) beam of the Ohio-class submarines
  • 16 missile launch tubes[2] instead of 24 missile launch tubes on Ohio-class submarines. A November 2012 report suggested that the submarines will have 12 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) silos/tubes.[28] However, other sources do not support this.[29][30]
  • Although the SSBN(X) is to have fewer launch tubes than the Ohio-class submarine, SSBN(X) is expected to have a submerged displacement about the same as that of Ohio-class submarines

Also, the U.S. Navy has stated that "owing to the unique demands of strategic relevance, [SSBN(X)s] must be fitted with the most up-to-date capabilities and stealth to ensure they are survivable throughout their full 40-year life span."[31]

In November 2012, the U.S. Naval Institute revealed, citing Naval Sea Systems Command, additional design information:[30]

  • X-shaped stern control surfaces (hydroplanes)
  • Sail-mounted dive planes
  • Electric drive
  • Off-the-shelf equipment developed for previous submarine designs (Virginia-class SSNs), including a pump-jet propulsor, anechoic coating and a Large Aperture Bow (LAB) sonar system.

The Columbia-class submarine may also be equipped with a Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical System (SWFTS), a cluster of systems that integrate sonar, optical imaging, weapons control etc.[32][33][34]

Electric drive

Electric drive is a propulsion system that uses an electric motor that turns the propeller of a vessel. It is part of a wider (Integrated electric power) concept whose aim is to create an "all electric vessel".[35][36] Electric drive should reduce the life cycle cost of submarines while at the same time reducing acoustic signature.[37][38]

Turbo-electric drive had been used on U.S. capital ships (battleships and aircraft carriers) in the first half of the twentieth century.[39] Later on, two nuclear-powered submarines, USS Tullibee and USS Glenard P. Lipscomb, were equipped with turboelectric drive but experienced reliability issues during their service life and deemed underpowered and maintenance heavy.[40][41][42] Currently (as of 2013), only the French Navy uses turboelectric drive on its nuclear-powered Triomphant-class submarines.[43]

Conceptually, electric drive is only a segment of the propulsion system (it does not replace the nuclear reactor or the steam turbines). Instead it replaces reduction gearing (mechanical drive) used on earlier nuclear-powered submarines.[35] In 1998, the Defence Science Board envisaged a nuclear-powered submarine that would use an advanced electric drive eliminating the need for both reduction gearing (mechanical drive) as well as steam turbines.[44]

In 2014, Northrop Grumman was chosen as the prime designer and manufacturer of the turbine generator units.[45] Turbine generators convert mechanical energy from the steam turbines into electrical energy.[46] The electrical energy is then used for powering onboard systems as well as for propulsion via electric motor.[45][47]

Various electric motors are being or have been developed for both military and non-military vessels.[48] Those being considered for application on future U.S. Navy submarines include: permanent magnet motors (being developed by General Dynamics and Newport News Shipbuilding) and a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) synchronous motors (being developed by American Superconductors as well as General Atomics).[48][49][50]

More recent data shows that the U.S. Navy appears to be focusing on permanent-magnet, radial-gap electric propulsion motors (e.g. Zumwalt-class destroyers use an advanced induction motor).[51] Permanent magnet motors are being tested on the Large Scale Vehicle II for possible application on late production Virginia-class SSNs as well as future submarines.[52][53] Permanent magnet motors (developed by Siemens AG) are used on Type 212-class submarines.[54]

Reports on the Royal Navy Dreadnought-class submarine (i.e., the class that will replace the Vanguard-class SSBNs) state that the submarines may have submarine shaftless drive (SSD) with an electric motor mounted outside the pressure hull.[55] SSD was evaluated by the U.S. Navy as well but it remains unknown whether the Ohio class replacement will feature it.[56][57] On contemporary nuclear submarines steam turbines are linked to reduction gears and a shaft rotating the propeller/pump-jet propulsor. With SSD, steam would drive electric turbogenerators (i.e., generators powered by steam turbines) that would be connected to a non-penetrating electric junction at the aft end of the pressure hull, with a watertight electric motor mounted externally (perhaps in an Integrated Motor Propulsor arrangement),[58] powering the pump-jet propulsor,[55] although SSD concepts without pump-jet propulsors also exist.[59] More recent data, including an Ohio Replacement scale model displayed at the Navy League’s 2015 Sea-Air-Space Exposition, indicates that the Ohio Replacement will feature a pump-jet propulsor visually similar to the one used on Virginia-class SSNs.[60][30] The class will share components from the Virginia class in order to reduce risk and cost of construction.[60][61]

Common missile compartment

In December 2008, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation was selected to design the Common Missile Compartment that will be used on the Ohio class successor.[28]

In 2012, the U.S. Navy announced plans for its SSBN(X) to share a common missile compartment (CMC) design with the Royal Navy's Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarine.[62] The CMC will house SLBMs in so-called quad packs.[63][64]

Criticism

Sources such as the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) suggest that the number of submarines should be lower due to an ever-decreasing number of deterrent patrols in the post-Cold War era and as a cost reduction measure. The FAS analyzed current and past Ohio-class submarine deployments to calculate the number of yearly SSBN deterrent patrols. The results of that study found that yearly deterrent patrols reduced by 56% from 1999 to 2013. The FAS argues that fewer submarines could be built if those boats were to maintain the higher deterrent patrol rate of years past.[65][66] However, the United States Navy disagrees with the FAS assessment.[67]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ohio Replacement Program". United States Naval Institute. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  2. 1 2 3 O'Rourke 2017, p. 8.
  3. ↑ "SSBN-X Future Follow-on Submarine". GlobalSecurity.org. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  4. ↑ https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/02/2001872886/-1/-1/1/2018-NUCLEAR-POSTURE-REVIEW-FINAL-REPORT.PDF
  5. 1 2 "SENEDIA Defense Innovation Days" (PDF). Senedia.org. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  6. ↑ This story was written by Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, Commander Submarine Group Ten Public Affairs. "1,000 Trident Patrols: SSBNs the Cornerstone of Strategic Deterrence". Navy.mil. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  7. 1 2 Kris Osborn. "Navy Finishes Specs for Future Nuclear Sub". Dodbuzz.com. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  8. ↑ O'Rourke 2017, p. 1.
  9. 1 2 Kristensen, Hans M. (24 July 2013). "SSBNX Under Pressure: Submarine Chief Says Navy Can't Reduce". FAS Strategic Security Blog. Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  10. ↑ O'Rourke 2017, pp. 55, 56.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Jason. "Facts We Can Agree Upon About Design of Ohio Replacement SSBN". Navylive.dodlive.mil. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  12. ↑ O'Rourke 2017, p. 5.
  13. 1 2 3 "U.S. Nuclear Modernization Programs". Arms Control Association. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  14. 1 2 "Ohio-class Replacement Will Carry "Re-packaged and Re-hosted" Weapons System". Defense Media Network. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  15. ↑ O'Rourke 2017, p. 10.
  16. ↑ Ratnam, Gopal; Capaccio, Tony (9 March 2011). "U.S. Navy Sees 20-Year, $333 Billion Plan Missing Ship Goals". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  17. ↑ Grace Jean (2016-03-30). "USN taps General Dynamics Electric Boat as prime contractor for Ohio Replacement Programme | IHS Jane's 360". Janes.com. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  18. ↑ "Ohio Replacement Plan Is Good News For Electric Boat « Breaking Defense – Defense industry news, analysis and commentary". Breakingdefense.com. 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  19. ↑ "SSBN / SSGN Ohio Class Submarine". Naval Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  20. ↑ "Newport News Shipbuilding's share of Virginia-class submarine deliveries to grow | Defense & Shipyards". Pilotonline.com. 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  21. ↑ Bergman, Julia (10 December 2016). "Navy contracts mean Electric Boat will hire 14,000 over next 13 years". The Day.
  22. ↑ https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R41129.pdf
  23. ↑ Page 7 - https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R41129.pdf
  24. ↑ Sam LaGrone (2016-07-28). "New U.S. Navy Nuclear Sub Class to Be Named for D.C". News.usni.org. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  25. ↑ "SECNAV Mabus to Officially Designate First ORP Boat USS Columbia (SSBN-826)" USNI News, December 13th, 2016
  26. ↑
  27. ↑ "Ohio Replacement Submarine Starts Early Construction".
  28. 1 2 "CMC Program to Define Future SSBN Launchers for UK, USA". Defense Industry Daily. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  29. ↑ "An Analysis of the Navy's Fiscal Year 2013 Shipbuilding Plan" (PDF). Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  30. 1 2 3 "Ohio-class Replacement Details". US Naval Institute. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  31. ↑ O'Rourke 2017, p. 9.
  32. ↑ "On Watch 2011". Navsea.navy.mil. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  33. ↑ Keller, John (2012-04-15). "Lockheed Martin to adapt submarine combat systems for network-centric warfare operations at sea – Military & Aerospace Electronics". Militaryaerospace.com. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  34. ↑
  35. 1 2 "An Integrated Electric Power System: the Next Step". Navy.mil. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  36. ↑ "Going Electric". Defense Media Network. 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  37. ↑ "Propulsion Systems for Navy Ships and Submarines" (PDF). Government Accounting Office. 6 July 2006.
  38. ↑ "Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000–2035 Becoming a 21st-Century Force: Volume 2: Technology". Nap.edu. 2003-06-01. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  39. ↑ Tony DiGiulian. "Turboelectric Drive in American Capital Ships". Navweaps.com. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  40. ↑ Paul Lambert. "USS Tullibee – History". USS Tullibee SSN 597. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  41. ↑ "Submarine Technology thru the Years". Navy.mil. 1997-07-19. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  42. ↑ Sam LaGrone (2013-03-28). "Secret Nuclear Redesign Will Keep U.S. Subs Running Silently for 50 Years | Danger Room". Wired.com. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  43. ↑ "SSBN Triomphant Class". Naval Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  44. ↑ "Submarine of the Future". Fas.org. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  45. 1 2 "News". Northrop Grumman.
  46. ↑ "Electricity 101 – GE Power Generation".
  47. ↑ Kris Osborn. "Ohio Replacement Subs To Shift To Electric Drive |". Defensetech.org. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  48. 1 2 Bogomolov, M.D. (22 January 2013). "Concept study of 20 MW highspeed permanent magnet synchronous motor for marine propulsion" (PDF). Eindhoven University of Technology.
  49. ↑ O'Rourke, Ronald (11 December 2006). "Navy Ship Propulsion Technologies: Options for Reducing Oil Use — Background for Congress" (PDF). Federation of American Scientists. RL33360.
  50. ↑ Sonal Patel (2009-03-01). "Superconductor Motor for Navy Passes Full-Power Test :: POWER Magazine". Powermag.com. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  51. ↑ "DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer". Defense.about.com. 2012-11-01. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  52. ↑ "Small Subs Provide Big Payoffs for Submarine Stealth". Navy.mil. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  53. ↑ Dan Petty. "The US Navy – Fact File: Large Scale Vehicle – LSV 2". Navy.mil. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  54. ↑ "SINAVYCIS Permasyn" (PDF). Siemens AG. 2009.
  55. 1 2 "SSBN "Strategic Successor Submarine" project". Harpoon Headquarters. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  56. ↑ "Tango Bravo: breaking down barriers in submarine design". Janes.com. 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  57. ↑ "Tango Bravo R&D Project to Drive Down Sub Size". Defenseindustrydaily.com. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  58. ↑ "Torpedoes and the Next Generation of Undersea Weapons". Navy.mil. Archived from the original on April 20, 2015. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  59. ↑ Kuhn, Dave; Torrez, Joe; Fallier, William (2006). "The Rim Electric Drive – Internal Submarine" (PDF). Naval Construction and Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  60. 1 2 "GDEB Unveils New Ohio Replacement (SSBN-X) Detailed Model at Sea-Air-Space 2015 Exposition". Navyrecognition.com. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  61. ↑ O'Rourke 2017, p. 27.
  62. ↑ O'Rourke 2017, pp. 9, 10.
  63. ↑ "Navy Signs Specification Document for the Ohio Replacement Submarine Program, Sets forth Critical Design Elements". Navy News Service. 6 September 2012. NNS120906-13. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  64. ↑ Patani, Arif (2012-09-24). "Next Generation Ohio-Class". Navylive.dodlive.mil. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  65. ↑ Kristensen, Hans M. (30 April 2013). "Declining Deterrent Patrols Indicate Too Many SSBNs". FAS Strategic Security Blog. Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  66. ↑ https://fas.org/blogs/security/2013/04/ssbnpatrols/
  67. ↑ "CRS report: "SSBN-826 Program - Background & Issues"" (PDF). fas.org. Retrieved 30 December 2017.

Bibliography

  • Breckenridge, Richard (22 June 2013). "Facts We Can Agree Upon About Design of Ohio Replacement SSBN". NavyLive. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
  • O'Rourke, Ronald (17 September 2017). "Navy Navy SSBN(X) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. R41129. Retrieved 2017-09-23 – via Federation of American Scientists.
  • Thompson, Loren (20 June 2011). "The Submarine That Might Save America". Forbes. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
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