The next contract for the U.S. Navy’s program to build its fleet of Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines will be the Block I construction contract, according to program manager Capt. John Rucker.
That is expected to cover the first two boats. “[W]e will award that no later than Oct. 1, 2019, to build the ships on schedule,” Rucker said last week at the Navy League’s annual Sea Air Space Expo at National Harbor, Md.
The Navy plans to replace its current fleet of Ohio-class submarines with 12 Columbia-class vessels. Construction of the first Columbia boat is scheduled to begin by Oct. 1, 2020, for deployment by 2030.
Separately, the Ohio-class USS Rhode Island ballistic missile submarine test-launched an unarmed Trident D-5 missile on May 9. The Navy noted this was the 172nd successful test flight of the D-5 since it was introduced to the fleet in 1989.
The trial launch was part of a demonstration and shakedown operation, DASO-29, which the Navy said aims to “evaluate and demonstrate the readiness of the SSBN’s strategic weapon system and crew before operational deployment following its engineered refueling overhaul (ERO).” The Rhode Island in August 2018 finished its ERO, which extended the boat’s life by over 20 years and involved a refueling and upgrade.
