During a hearing before the U.S. Congress, officials from the Department of Energy and the U.S. Navy affirmed that the reactor program to equip the new Columbia- and Virginia-class nuclear submarines is progressing, marking a significant step toward incorporating both platforms into the fleet. The news comes during a month in which the U.S. Navy finalized the order for its last two Virginia-class Block V submarines, although it also follows the recent disclosure of substantial delays in the construction of the first Columbia-class vessel.
Among the official statements made before the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, noteworthy remarks came from James McConnell, currently the Acting Principal Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, who stated: “Naval Reactors is advancing naval nuclear propulsion capabilities to keep the U.S. Navy on the cutting edge of warfighting capability, maintaining the assured second-strike capability of the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad, and building the next generation of naval nuclear propulsion infrastructure for continued operational success“.
Admiral William Houston, Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, reported that in 2024 significant progress has been made in the construction of the reactor cores that will be installed in the first three Columbia-class submarines, with the second and third cores still under production. He added that his division has received various reactor components in accordance with the established schedules, which will allow progress in upcoming design and reliability tests for the lead ship’s reactor, as originally planned.
On other key topics, officials also referenced the construction of a new facility called the Naval Spent Fuel Handling Facility, which is expected to recapitalize Naval Reactors’ ability to manage spent nuclear fuel. The project is anticipated to be completed during the next decade. Admiral Houston also noted that the U.S. has a secured supply of enriched uranium through 2050, though long-term planning must begin now to ensure this critical resource remains available beyond that date.
Returning to the status of the Virginia-class program, it’s worth recalling that the U.S. Navy confirmed at the end of last month its decision to procure the final two Block V submarines, namely the future USS Baltimore (SSN-812) and USS Atlanta (SSN-813), with an investment of $18.5 billion. Like the other 10 submarines in the class, these will be built by General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. and Huntington Ingalls. Once completed, the program is expected to move forward with the construction of the next variant, Block VI, which will consist of around 10 submarines.
Finally, as for the Columbia-class program, it is essential to mention the estimated delay of 12 to 18 months affecting the construction of the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826), the lead vessel in the class. As previously reported in April, the U.S. Navy now expects to commission this submarine in 2029, while the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN-827) and USS Groton (SSBN-828) are expected to follow closer to the original timeline, entering service in 2032 and 2034, respectively.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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