During a presentation before Congress on Tuesday, U.S. Navy officials stated that the construction of the first of the new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines is facing significant delays, estimated to be between 12 and 18 months behind the original schedule. This program is one of the most important currently underway for the Navy, given that these submarines are intended to replace the existing Ohio-class, a cornerstone of the United States’ nuclear deterrent capabilities.
The news was specifically disclosed by Rear Admiral Todd Weeks, who serves as the Executive Program Officer for Strategic Submarines in the U.S. Navy. According to his statements, the lead submarine of the class, the USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826), is now expected to be delivered in 2029 based on current projections. The following units, USS Wisconsin (SSBN-827) and USS Groton (SSBN-828), are still anticipated to be delivered according to the original timeline—namely in 2032 and 2034, respectively.
It’s worth recalling that construction of the first Columbia-class submarine, led by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), began in 2022, physically realizing a design that had been in development since 2007. The U.S. Navy plans to incorporate a total of 12 submarines of this class, each capable of carrying up to 16 Trident D5 ballistic missiles. The submarine’s planned dimensions make it the largest ever built for the Navy, featuring a length of 560 feet and a displacement of 20,810 tons.
A project of this scale—one that involves more than 3,000 suppliers—always carries the inherent risk of delays in the production chain. Back in March 2024, specialized U.S. media had already reported construction delays affecting the lead Columbia-class submarine, particularly its bow section, manufactured by Newport News Shipbuilding (a division of HII), and its steam turbines, produced by Northrop Grumman. The stern section, on the other hand, was delivered to GDEB in January 2024.
Lastly, it’s important to highlight that as this news becomes public, the U.S. Navy is working to streamline shipbuilding processes through a new office announced last month. Additionally, the Pentagon is drafting a new National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2026, which is expected to exceed one trillion U.S. dollars for the first time in history. This could provide a significant boost to the American shipbuilding industry, helping normalize project delivery timelines, although it will also come with increased Congressional oversight—especially following the recent release of a critical report on the matter by the Government Accountability Office.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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