COLUMBIA Class Submarine Development
Abstract
The COLUMBIA Submarine Class Program (previously the OHIO Replacement Class) is developing the next generation sea-based strategic deterrent. The funding applies to the design, systems engineering, prototyping, and vendor qualification activities needed to execute the schedule for Common Missile Compartment (CMC) design, whole ship design, and component technologies development for the next generation U.S. ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). This RDT&E program supports cooperation with the United Kingdom (UK) to maintain strategic deterrence, based on a single effort to develop a CMC as agreed by the UK Secretary of State for Defense and the U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2009. At the COLUMBIA Program Semi-Annual Interim Progress Review (IPR) held on August 30, 2021, the USD(A&S) Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) directed COLUMBIA to be funded to the program baseline, including Integrated Enterprise Plan (IEP) funding as reflected in this budget submission. The total RDTE FY2023 increase of $24.75M from FY2022 RDTEN controls (+$95.829M in the FYDP) is due to adjusting funding for the COLUMBIA Class Program to the baseline, and the start of funding in the 3440/3441 lines, which commence in FY23 per the program plan. The COLUMBIA program strategy is to leverage the re-use of existing Submarine system designs (as applicable), focus on lifecycle Total Ownership Cost (TOC) affordability, and meet the military requirements established for this SSBN to achieve mission success in a challenging environment. The requested funding levels provide for the Technology Development, Design, Engineering, and Integration efforts necessary to support the COLUMBIA Class SSBN lead ship construction along with continued development and design support for construction of the class. A Contract Modification for ongoing design/advance construction efforts was awarded on 22 Jun 2020, which also included the Build I Option for the First Two Ships. This was a Pre-Priced Option for the two ships, SSBN 826 and SSBN 827, and associated design/support efforts. This was a modification of the current IPPD contract (N00024-17-C-2117) and is in line with the program's approved Acquisition Strategy. The program requested authorization of SSBN 826 in FY21, funded with three years of incremental funding in FY21-23, and is requesting authorization of SSBN 827 in FY24, funded with two years of incremental funding in FY24-25. The RDT&E efforts support this plan. The following key activities support the COLUMBIA Class SSBN Program: 1. Design and development of a missile compartment, launch system, and Strategic Weapons Support Systems (SWSS) to meet U.S. strategic requirements while cooperating with the UK on modernizing its strategic deterrent in accordance with Presidential direction (December 2006). 2. Concept Definition, System Definition, and Detailed Design for remaining portions of the ship accomplished through a Design/Build/Sustain approach modeled after the approach used by the VIRGINIA Class program. 3. Engineering and integration of existing technologies and development of new technologies required to provide the capabilities necessary to ensure platform operational effectiveness and minimize life cycle cost. 4. Ongoing design support for construction of the submarine class. COLUMBIA Class SSBN concept study, system definition prototyping, and technology development efforts support design, systems engineering, component development and vendor qualification activities needed to develop the CMC design and the COLUMBIA whole ship design. The COLUMBIA design timelines are based on a design approach proven on the VIRGINIA Class Program, adjusted for the additional complexity of a missile compartment and Strategic Weapons Systems (SWS). Planned technical studies and prototyping are necessary to reduce risks associated with updating SSBN system designs for current technical standards and demonstrating design feasibility of developmental technology to meet the ship design and construction schedule. The Navy continues to invest in program funded affordability initiatives similar to those employed successfully for VIRGINIA Class, but tailored to the unique SSBN mission and operational tempo of COLUMBIA Class to drive down overall program costs. Efforts focus on reducing ship construction costs through implementing more effective design features and fabrication and assembly methods for a more affordable submarine. As part of this effort, alternative procurement and contracting strategies are also being utilized to include Multi-Program Material Procurement (MPMP) and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ). Activities were executed for the first article quad pack (FAQP) prototype of the CMC to support the UK DREADNOUGHT Program and COLUMBIA Program, and to continue validation of the Integrated Tube and Hull (ITH) build strategy. These activities included the continuation of the construction of the FAQP, which began August 2016, and completed in October 2019. This FAQP was determined to not be useable based on defective missile tubes and was cut apart to recover the missile tubes to use later in the program. The CMC program will mature required technologies and re-host the TRIDENT II D5 SWS (Launcher, Fire Control and Navigation) while ensuring no degradation to D5 security, safety, and performance. In addition, whole ship design efforts are focused on technologies requiring significant engineering, integration, and development time as well as those technologies that are required to support ship design and construction schedules such as the propulsor and maneuvering/ship control. These technologies are critical for stealth capability for a ship class that will be in service until the 2080s. Ship detailed design efforts include important activities such as finalizing ship arrangements, development of design disclosures to support build products, risk characterization, and mitigation, improvement and validation of performance prediction tools and improvement of design tools. Technology development addresses engineering and integration of existing technologies as well as maturation of developmental technologies. On 14 December 2016, the Secretary of the Navy announced the lead ship of the OHIO Replacement Program will be USS COLUMBIA (SSBN 826) which officially designates this program the COLUMBIA Class Submarine Program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 3220_0603595N_4_1319_PB_2024
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